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 Delaware, foster care is managed by the Division of Family Services (DFS) within the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families. The system is designed to provide a safe, temporary living situation for children who cannot remain in their homes due to abuse, neglect, or other family crises. Foster care placements can include living with relatives (kinship care), non-relative foster parents, group homes, residential care facilities, emergency shelters, or supervised independent living for older youth. The goal is to provide a supportive environment while working towards family reunification, adoption, or another permanent living arrangement. Delaware state statutes and regulations outline the requirements for foster care providers, the rights of children in foster care, and the processes for placement, case management, and exiting the foster care system.