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 Oklahoma, foster care is managed by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS), which is responsible for ensuring the safety and well-being of children who cannot live with their families due to safety concerns, abuse, neglect, or other family issues. Foster care is intended to be a temporary arrangement until a permanent living situation can be established, whether that be reunification with the child's family, adoption, guardianship, or placement with a relative. Children in foster care may be placed with licensed foster parents, relatives (also known as kinship care), group homes, residential care facilities, emergency shelters, or in supervised independent living programs for older youth. The state of Oklahoma has specific statutes and regulations that govern the foster care system, including the training and approval of foster parents, the rights of children in foster care, and the services provided to support children and foster families. The ultimate goal of foster care in Oklahoma is to provide a safe, stable, and nurturing environment for children while working towards a more permanent solution for their care.