Placements in the approximately 30 programs operating in the United Kingdom are based on written contracts, which are made for limited periods and aim to help teenagers either to return to their own homes after a specified period of time or to launch themselves into independent living. In either case, the foster parents are expected to work closely with the natural parents. The principle of payment to foster parents is that they are being paid fees for difficult and skilled jobs and the fees therefore have to compete with other sources of income. Several programs pay a fee of over 40 pounds a week in addition to normal boarding allowances. The results to date show that most placements have been completed as planned and that delinquent activity has been reduced or halted in a high proportion of cases. Several programs are intended specifically for teenagers who would otherwise have gone to community homes providing education; such placements provide a potential alternative to residential care for those for whom removal from home is considered essential. Specific projects described include the Kent Family Project, Wakefield Professional Fostering Scheme, Birmingham Special Family Placement Scheme, Bradford Community Parents Scheme, Cheshire Family Placement Project, Coventry Family Life for Young People Scheme, Lambeth Family Placement Project, and Berbyshire Family Placement Project. (Author abstract modified)