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 North Carolina, foster care is regulated by the North Carolina Division of Social Services (DSS) under the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Foster care serves as a temporary arrangement for children who are unable to live with their biological families due to safety concerns, abuse, neglect, or other circumstances that prevent them from receiving adequate care. Children in foster care may be placed with relatives, known as kinship care, or with licensed foster parents. There are also other placement options such as group homes, residential care facilities, emergency shelters, and supervised independent living programs for older youth. The goal of foster care in North Carolina is to provide a safe, stable, and nurturing environment for children while working towards family reunification, adoption, or other permanent living arrangements. The state statutes and regulations governing foster care ensure that children's needs are met while in the system and that foster parents receive the necessary support and training to care for the children placed with them.