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 South Dakota, foster care is managed by the Department of Social Services (DSS), specifically through its Child Protection Services division. This service is intended for children who are unable to safely live with their families due to abuse, neglect, or other serious family issues. Foster care placements can include living with relatives (kinship care), with licensed foster parents, in group homes, residential care facilities, emergency shelters, or in supervised independent living situations for older adolescents. The goal of foster care in South Dakota is to provide a safe, stable, and nurturing environment for children temporarily, with a primary focus on reuniting children with their families whenever possible. If reunification is not feasible, the state may pursue other permanent solutions, such as adoption. State statutes and regulations outline the qualifications for foster parents, the rights of biological parents and children, and the procedures for placing children in foster care and for their eventual exit from the system.