Foster care refers to a system in which children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect or other reasons are placed into temporary care with families or institutions that are not their biological parents. The goal is to provide a safe and nurturing environment for the child while efforts are made to reunite them with their family or find an adoptive home. Foster care can be provided by foster families, who generally receive financial support from the government, or by group homes, institutions or residential facilities that are funded through various sources such as non-profit organizations or state agencies. The length of time a child spends in foster care varies depending on their situation and can range from a few days to several years.