The Department of Social Services Foster Care Program helps the children of families who have not been able to keep their youngsters safe from harm. Foster Care temporarily provides a substitute extended family during a time when neither parents nor other extended family members can meet a child's needs. Social problems like domestic violence and substance abuse have made it harder for families to care for their children and are increasingly related to foster care.
Every child deserves stability, comfort and care.
If a child faces immediate danger, we make an emergency removal from the home. That is unusual, though. Typically, when we are called in to help, we make every effort to strengthen the family. If those efforts fail, then we look out for the best interests of each child. Foster care may become an option.