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 New Hampshire, foster care is regulated by the Division for Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) under the Department of Health and Human Services. The state provides temporary out-of-home care for children who are unable to live with their families due to safety concerns, abuse, neglect, or other family crises. Foster care placements can include living with relatives (known as kinship care), with licensed unrelated foster parents, in group homes, residential care facilities, emergency shelters, or in supervised independent living situations for older youth. The primary goal of foster care in New Hampshire is to ensure the safety, permanency, and well-being of children in care, with a strong emphasis on reunification with their families whenever possible. When reunification is not an option, the state may seek other permanent solutions, such as adoption or guardianship. Foster parents in New Hampshire are required to complete a licensing process that includes training, background checks, and home assessments to ensure they can provide a safe and nurturing environment for children in foster care.