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 Iowa, foster care serves as a temporary protective service for children when their biological families are unable to care for them due to various challenges such as poverty, substance abuse, mental illness, and other adversities. Foster parents in Iowa are required to undergo training prior to taking children into their care and receive ongoing support from social workers and professionals throughout their time as foster caregivers. Additionally, they have access to resources such as respite care programs and support networks, including local organizations and online groups. The primary goal of foster care in Iowa is to provide a safe and nurturing environment for children with the intention of reunification with their birth parents whenever possible. Foster parents play a supportive role in this process by facilitating visitations, attending court appearances, and preparing for the possibility that a child may either return to their biological family or be placed with another relative if it is in the child's best interest. The state's regulations and support systems are designed to prioritize the well-being and stability of children in foster care while working towards family reunification or another permanent solution.