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 Utah, foster care is regulated by the Utah Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS). The system is designed to provide temporary care and shelter for children who cannot safely remain 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 Utah are required to complete pre-service training and are subject to background checks to ensure the safety and well-being of children placed in their care. They receive ongoing support from social workers and may have access to resources such as respite care and support groups. Foster care is intended to be a temporary solution, with the primary goal being reunification with the child's biological family whenever possible. Foster parents are expected to support reunification efforts, which may include facilitating visitations and participating in court proceedings. If reunification is not possible, other permanent arrangements such as adoption or guardianship may be pursued, always with the child's best interest as the paramount concern.