Foster care (also known as out-of-home care) is a temporary service provided by each state for children who cannot live with their families. Children in foster care may live with relatives or with unrelated foster parents. Foster care can also refer to placement settings such as group homes, residential care facilities, emergency shelters, and supervised independent living.
In California, foster care is a system designed to provide a safe, temporary living situation for children who cannot remain in the care of their birth families due to safety concerns, abuse, neglect, or other family crises. The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) oversees the foster care program, working in conjunction with county child welfare agencies. Children in foster care may be placed with relatives, known as kinship care, or with non-relative foster parents. Other placement options include group homes, residential care facilities, emergency shelters, and for older youth, supervised independent living programs. The goal of foster care in California is to provide a nurturing environment while working towards family reunification, adoption, or another permanent living situation. The state also has a Foster Care Bill of Rights that ensures the rights of children in the foster care system are protected.