About Us

Did You Know...?

...that the primary ingredient for becoming a successful foster home is providing a stable, supportive home environment for abused and neglected children. A good sense of humor helps, too!

...that Virginia has over 6,800 foster children in social service custody?

...that it takes an average of 3-4 months to become an approved foster home in Virginia?

...that foster parents are considered "professional parents" and are part of a team that works on behalf of the child?

...that corporal punishment is strictly prohibited as a form of discipline by foster, adoptive and resource parents?

...that foster, adoptive and resource families receive financial reimbursement each month for the care of a foster child, depending on the child's age and needs?

More about Foster Care Services

Foster Care is the provision of temporary care and services for a child who cannot presently remain in his/her own home. Foster Care services are provided by all local social service departments and include planning for the child's timely return home or placement in a permanent home. Foster care services include the recruitment and training of foster, adoptive and resource families for a child.

The philosophy of Virginia's Foster Care Program is to maintain family unity and keep a child in the home whenever possible. When placement of a child in foster care becomes necessary, the goal of the foster care program is to ensure that a child's needs are met and that the child is placed with a permanent family as soon as possible.

Foster, adoptive and resource families are essential to providing foster care services for a child. Foster families make a commitment to provide total care for a child placed in their home until a permanent placement is found. Resource families make a dual commitment to a foster child; support the child's return to his/her biological family or, if that is not possible, to then adopt the child. Adoptive families make a commitment to adopt a child for whom adoption is the only permanent option available.

Eligibility for foster, adoptive or resource parenting requires:

• Be at least 21 years of age
• Have sufficient income to meet their own needs
• Commit to meeting the individual needs of children
• Be willing to provide a healthy, safe and nurturing home for children
• Be willing to work in partnership with children, birth parents and our agency to help resolve problems and reunite the family whenever adoption is not the goal
• Complete an application
• Consent to a criminal background check
• Consent to a child abuse/neglect record check
• Provide personal references
• Provide medical and financial information
• Attend all required training
• Work with a social worker to complete a home study assessment (an in depth opportunity for the social worker and family to decide if becoming a foster, adoptive or resource provider is a viable option for the family)