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 Oklahoma, foster care is regulated by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS), which provides protective services 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 factors. Foster parents in Oklahoma are required to undergo training and are supported by social workers and professionals throughout the fostering process. 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 Oklahoma is to provide a temporary safe environment for children, with a strong emphasis on reunification with their biological families whenever possible. Foster parents are expected to actively support reunification efforts, which may involve facilitating visitations and attending court hearings. However, they must also 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. State statutes and federal laws govern the foster care system to ensure the safety and well-being of the children in care.