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 Jersey, foster care is regulated by the state's Department of Children and Families (DCF), specifically through its Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P). Foster care is intended as a temporary arrangement for children who are unable to live with their biological families due to safety concerns, abuse, neglect, or other issues. Children in foster care may be placed with relatives, known as kinship care, or with licensed foster parents who are unrelated to them. The state also utilizes other types of placements such as group homes, residential treatment centers, emergency shelters, and supervised independent living programs for older youth. The goal of foster care in New Jersey is to provide a safe, stable, and nurturing environment for children while working towards family reunification, adoption, or another permanent living arrangement. The state ensures that foster care providers meet certain standards and receive training to care for the children placed with them. If reunification with the biological family is not possible, the state may seek to terminate parental rights and find a permanent solution for the child, such as adoption.