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 New York State, foster care is regulated under the Social Services Law, and the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) oversees the foster care system. Foster care provides a temporary home for children who cannot live with their biological families due to various reasons such as abuse, neglect, or the inability of parents to provide care due to issues like substance abuse or mental illness. Foster parents in New York are required to complete pre-service training and are supported by social workers and other professionals throughout the fostering process. They may also have access to respite care and support from community organizations. The primary goal of foster care in New York is to reunify children with their biological families whenever possible, and foster parents are expected to support these efforts. This includes facilitating visitations and attending court hearings. However, if reunification is not in the best interest of the child, other permanent living arrangements, such as adoption or kinship care, may be pursued. Foster parents must be prepared for the possibility of a child leaving their care to return to their biological family or to be placed with another relative.