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 Virginia, foster care is regulated under state statutes and policies that are designed to provide a safe, temporary placement 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 Virginia are required to undergo 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 local organizations. The primary goal of foster care in Virginia is to reunify children with their birth parents whenever possible, and foster parents are expected to support these efforts. This includes facilitating visitations and attending court appearances. Foster parents must be prepared for the possibility that a child may return to their birth parents or be placed with another relative if it is in the child's best interest. The Virginia Department of Social Services oversees the foster care system and ensures that foster care services are administered in accordance with federal and state laws, prioritizing the welfare and best interests of the children in care.