Parens Patriae is the authority granted to the state to be an overarching child protector. Parens patriae is Latin for "parent of the nation." In law, it refers to the public policy power of the state to intervene against an abusive or negligent parent, legal guardian, or informal caretaker, and to act as the parent of any child… in need of protection."

It means that a court can enter orders as 'it' would want, if 'it' were the actual parent of the child. In practical terms, that means that the court stands in the shoes of a parent. Standing in a parents' shoes implies that a court has obligations to take precautions and actions necessary to protect children and to assure them the time and means to heal whenever there is a reasonable belief they may be injured or at risk.