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 Rhode Island, foster care is regulated by the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). The system is designed to provide temporary care for children who cannot live with their biological families due to various reasons such as poverty, substance abuse, mental illness, and other challenges. Foster parents in Rhode Island are required to undergo training and are supported by social workers and other professionals throughout the fostering process. They also have access to resources like respite care programs and support groups. Foster care is intended to be a temporary solution, with the primary goal being reunification with the child's birth parents whenever 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 that a child may leave their care to return to their birth family or be placed with another relative if it is in the child's best interest. The state statutes and regulations governing foster care in Rhode Island ensure that the welfare of the child is the paramount concern in all decisions related to foster care placements.