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 Iowa, foster care is a system designed to provide a safe, temporary living situation for children who cannot remain in their family home due to safety concerns, abuse, neglect, or other family crises. The Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) oversees the foster care program, working to place children with relatives when possible, which is known as kinship care. If kinship care is not an option, children may be placed with licensed foster parents. Foster care settings can also include group homes, residential care facilities, emergency shelters, and supervised independent living for older adolescents. The goal of Iowa's foster care system is to provide a stable and supportive environment for children while working towards family reunification, adoption, or other permanent living arrangements. The state statutes governing foster care in Iowa can be found in the Iowa Code, which outlines the regulations for the licensure of foster parents, the rights of children in foster care, and the responsibilities of the DHS.