Foster care is a protective service to children and their families when families can no longer care for their children. There are many reasons and circumstances that make it difficult for biological families to meet the needs of their children—including poverty, substance abuse, mental illness, homelessness, teen pregnancy, loss of a job, or lack of support from extended family. Unlike birth parents, foster parents receive training before they welcome children into their home, and support from social workers and other professionals throughout the process. Foster parents often also have access to respite care programs, and find support through local organizations, such as churches, and online support groups.

Traditionally, the foster parent’s role was seen as a temporary one—and even today more than half of children who enter foster care are reunified with their birth parents. Foster parents are frequently asked to support these reunification efforts—including facilitating visitations and attending court appearances—and must always be prepared to accept the loss of a child who returns to birth parents or is placed with another relative when that is found to be in the child’s best interest.

In California, foster care is a system designed to provide a temporary safe haven for children who cannot live with their biological families due to various challenges such as poverty, substance abuse, mental illness, and other factors. The state's foster care program is regulated by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), which sets the standards for foster care licensing, training, and support. Prospective foster parents in California are required to complete pre-approval training and undergo a home study process before they can care for foster children. They receive ongoing support from social workers and may have access to respite care and resources from local organizations. Foster parents play a crucial role in supporting the goal of reunification with biological families, which is a primary objective of the foster care system. This includes facilitating visitations and participating in court proceedings. However, they must also be prepared for the possibility that a child may leave their care to return to their birth family or be placed with another relative if it is in the child's best interest. The foster care experience in California is designed to be a collaborative effort between foster parents, biological families, social workers, and the legal system to ensure the well-being of the child.