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 Vermont, foster care is regulated by the Department for Children and Families (DCF) within the Agency of Human Services. The state recognizes foster care as a temporary arrangement for children who cannot live with their biological families due to various challenges such as poverty, substance abuse, or mental illness. Vermont law requires that foster parents undergo training and receive ongoing support from social workers and other professionals. Foster parents in Vermont may also benefit from respite care programs and community support networks. The primary goal of foster care in Vermont is to reunify children with their biological families whenever possible, and foster parents are expected to actively support these efforts. This includes facilitating visitations and attending court hearings. In cases where reunification is not possible, the child may be placed with another relative or in a more permanent setting, always with the child's best interest as the paramount concern. Vermont's foster care policies and practices are designed to provide a safe, temporary home for children in need while working towards the best possible outcome for their long-term well-being.