The manual presents a psychological analysis of the causes of "social" orphanhood, various forms of upbringing orphans and children left without parental care. Particular emphasis is placed on the presentation of the principles, types and content of family, including foster (foster), upbringing, its psychological aspects for children and adoptive parents, and also describes his experience on the examples of the Vladimir region, St. Petersburg and Moscow. The manual is intended for students and graduate students of psychological and pedagogical faculties of universities, as well as for specialists of educational institutions, centers for working with families and children. It can be used to improve the qualifications of heads of boarding schools, psychological, medical and pedagogical centers and support services, social teachers, psychologists, educators, teachers, defectologists, as well as when working with foster and foster families.