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 York State, foster care is regulated by the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). It is designed 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 endanger their well-being. Children in foster care may be placed with relatives, known as kinship foster care, or with non-relative foster parents. The state also utilizes various placement settings including group homes, residential care facilities, emergency shelters, and programs for supervised independent living for older youth. The goal of foster care in New York is to provide a safe, stable, and nurturing environment for children, with the ultimate aim of reunification with their families whenever possible. If reunification is not feasible, the state may seek other permanent living arrangements for the child, such as adoption or guardianship. Foster care services are overseen at the county level by local Departments of Social Services, which are responsible for the recruitment, training, and support of foster parents, as well as the placement and oversight of children in foster care.