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 Oregon, foster care is regulated by the Department of Human Services (DHS), 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, or mental illness. Prospective foster parents in Oregon are required to undergo 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 programs and support networks. Foster care is often a temporary arrangement, with a primary goal of reunification with the child's birth parents when possible. Foster parents are expected to support reunification efforts, which may include facilitating visitations and attending court hearings. They must also be prepared for the possibility of a child leaving their care to return to their birth family or to be placed with other relatives if it is in the child's best interest. Oregon state statutes and DHS policies outline the rights and responsibilities of foster parents, the process for becoming a foster parent, and the standards for the care of foster children.