A Foster Child is a child who has been removed from their home due to abuse or neglect, and care custody and control has been transferred to the local governing authority. A foster child who remains in the care custody and control of the Department of Human Services is termed a "dependent of the court" and a social worker monitors his/her case. A child who is placed under the care custody and control of the Probation Department, but lives in a group home or Foster home, because they cannot return home due to circumstances beyond their control, is termed a "ward of the court," and also considered a foster child and receives the same services offered all foster children.

More than 2,557 children are in out-of-home care in Kern County. Children are placed in foster care no fault of their own. The foster care provides a safe environment for children who have been abused or whose parents or other family members cannot care.

An Emancipated Foster Youth is a foster child who turns 18 is usually "emancipated" by the juvenile court and released from the care custody and control of any placement agency. The emancipated minor is legal to make all of their own decisions, as an adjudicated adult. Emancipated youth are still able to access transitional services until they are 21 from county agencies, but those services are not mandatory.

About 200 youth emancipate each year in Kern County.