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 Mississippi, foster care is managed by the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services (MDCPS). The system is designed to provide a safe, temporary living situation for children who are unable to live with their biological families due to abuse, neglect, or other family issues. Foster care placements can include living with relatives, known as kinship care, or with state-vetted foster parents. Other placement options include group homes, residential care facilities, emergency shelters, and supervised independent living programs for older youth. The goal of foster care in Mississippi is to provide a stable and supportive environment for children while working towards family reunification, adoption, or another permanent living situation. The state operates under federal laws such as the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) and the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act, as well as state statutes that govern child welfare services, foster care licensing, and the rights and responsibilities of foster parents and children in the foster care system.