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 Kentucky, foster care is administered by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, specifically through the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS). Foster care serves as a temporary arrangement for children who cannot safely remain with their biological families due to various issues such as poverty, substance abuse, mental illness, or other crises. Foster parents in Kentucky are required to complete pre-service training and are supported by social workers and other professionals throughout their time as foster caregivers. They also have access to resources like respite care and support networks, including local organizations and online groups. The primary goal of foster care in Kentucky is to reunify children with their biological families whenever possible, and foster parents play a crucial role in this process by facilitating visitations and participating in court proceedings. They must be prepared for the possibility that a child may either return to their birth parents or be placed with another relative if it is in the child's best interest. Kentucky state statutes and regulations outline the qualifications for foster parents, the rights and responsibilities of all parties involved, and the procedures for placement and reunification.