Ongoing Foster Care Support Resources and Services in Virginia

Being a foster parent is about more than providing a safe home. Caregivers are called upon to help children come to terms with trauma, keep in touch with their families, do well in school, and make sense of new routines. In Virginia, foster parents have support to handle these duties, including caseworker guidance, financial aid, healthcare, and connections with other foster families.

What exactly does that support look like? An approved foster parent in Virginia can count on monthly maintenance payments for a child’s basic needs, Medicaid access, childcare funding, and the guidance of an assigned worker. Ongoing training is also available, and depending on the agency and the child’s situation, the agency may offer respite care and other services. It is wise to understand these resources before taking on a placement so you're ready for the practical and emotional side of caregiving.

This guide to foster care support in Virginia covers foster parent support, training and resources, financial assistance for foster parents, foster family services, and practical guidance for managing a placement.

Introduction to Ongoing Training and Support for Foster Parents in Virginia

Continuous learning and support in foster care matter. First-time foster parents must stay up to date on the latest best practices to ensure they have the skills to provide optimal care for children.

Luckily, Virginia makes it easy to find resources for ongoing education. Foster parent training is available via the following organizations and institutions:

• The Department of Family Services (DFS)
• Foster Parent College
• Foster Care Academy
• Foster Care and Adoptive Community
• The Center for Adoption Support and Education
• The Foster Care Institute by Dr. John DeGarmo
• FosterParentTraining.com
• The North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC) Conference
• The National Foster Parent Association Conference
• Virginia public schools
• Virginia church community service boards

Pre-service foster parent training is crucial, but not enough on its own. Caregivers can never know it all, and research is constantly emerging about new ways to better support foster children.

Moreover, many states require foster caregivers to complete continuing education to maintain their licenses. For example, in Virginia, licensed foster parents must complete 30 hours of training courses every three years.

Foster parents in Virginia can access several forms of support, including monthly maintenance payments, Medicaid coverage for foster children, childcare assistance, and ongoing training. Depending on the child’s needs and the agency’s services, families may also receive respite care, therapeutic services, and guidance from an assigned caseworker. Peer support groups and foster care associations can provide additional advice and connections with other caregivers.

Financial and Practical Support for Foster Parents

Approved families in Virginia are entitled to certain forms of financial assistance, though the amount depends on program rules and the child’s needs.

Do Foster Parents Receive Monthly Payments?

Do foster parents get paid? They do. The placing agency typically disburses foster care maintenance payments monthly to cover food, clothing, and shelter. An annual supplemental clothing allowance is another benefit the state makes available.

For children with more demanding behavioral, emotional, or physical care needs, an assessment using the Virginia Enhanced Maintenance Assessment Tool (VEMAT) can make them eligible for an enhanced maintenance payment. While these funds from the Virginia Department of Social Services are meant to see to the child’s needs, they should not be viewed as a salary.

Is Healthcare Covered for Children in Foster Care?

It is. Foster Virginia’s official FAQ confirms that Medicaid will cover the necessary treatment and healthcare for those in foster care. This can include medical and dental visits, prescriptions, and behavioral health services, depending on the child's needs. The caseworker can connect you with participating providers and handle the authorizations needed for ongoing treatment. Don't assume every service or provider is automatically covered; verify eligibility before arranging specialized treatment.

Can Foster Parents Receive Childcare Assistance?

They do. If resource parents work away from home, local social services departments can provide market-rate funding, per Foster Virginia. But standard subsidy rules differ from foster care, so check with the caseworker about payment limits and any required approvals before making arrangements.

What Other Practical Assistance Is Available?

The agency may provide respite care, therapeutic services, or even funding for certain activities and specialized needs. Knowing in advance which costs the maintenance payment covers and which require separate sign-off helps. A little clarity on the process, plus receipts on hand, can prevent misunderstandings down the line.

Foster Parent Training Essentials

Foster parents have much flexibility when choosing training courses. Ideally, parents should choose courses in subject areas where they need improvement. This strategy supports a well-rounded education.

Here are some subjects that may be beneficial to foster parents after the initial pre-service training:

• Fostering neurodivergent children
• Fostering children who identify as LGBTQ
• Helping children heal from neglect and abuse
• Grief and loss in foster children
• Advanced attachment theory
• How to maintain your relationships as a foster parent
• Helping children heal from trauma
• Parenting tips for foster teens and tweens
• Trust-based relational interventions (TBRIs) and how to use them
• How to have healthy relationships with birth parents
• Transitioning from foster care to adoption
• Preventing foster children from running away
• How to manage psychotropic medications for foster children

Courses are available as in-person workshops, online classes, or via foster care conferences. Before enrolling, always ensure the organization is approved to provide these courses. Also, ask how many continuing education units (CEUs) are offered.

The Role of Peer Support Groups and Associations

Foster parents face significant challenges as they care for their children. Non-foster parents do not always understand these unique hurdles. So, it's crucial for fostering and adoptive parents to lean on each other for support.

New parents can learn from others with more experience and wisdom. Because fellow foster parents understand what each other is going through, peer support groups can provide a safe and non-judgmental place to learn.

When foster parents support each other, they can provide better lives for the children in their care. Studies show that foster parent support groups in VA help both foster caregivers and the children in their care.

Local In-Person Support Groups

Finding local support groups can be as simple as running a quick Google search. Queries that include your city or county plus "foster parent support group" will turn up results such as:

• Formed Families Together (register here)
• Stronger Together (for foster children)
• NAMI Virginia Family Support Group

You can also check with the Virginia DFS to find regional parent support groups near you.

Online Support Groups

Online support groups are even easier to find. Parents do not have to live in a certain area. Instead, virtual foster parent peer support programs like the following are available wherever WiFi is:

• Formed Families Together (register here)
• Talk It Out
• Heads Up (for foster teens)

Find additional nationwide online and in-person support groups at the Child Welfare Information Gateway.

Foster Care Association Support Services

Virginia is also home to various foster care associations. Consider visiting the following organizations' websites to find additional foster parent support services:

• NewFound Families Virginia
• Tidewater Friends of Foster Care
• FACES of Virginia
• Central Virginia Foster Parent Association
• Fairfax County Foster Care and Adoption Association
• Loudoun County Foster/Adoptive Parents Association of Virginia
• Russell County Foster Care Association
• Shenandoah County Foster Parent Association

You can also find resources at FosterVA, including testimonials from foster parents like you.

Therapeutic Services and Respite Care Options for Foster Children

When the physical and emotional demands of raising a foster child start to overwhelm you, it may be time to seek respite care for your foster child.

Therapeutic respite is for foster children with special needs, but respite care, in general, is for all children. This service gives parents a break from caregiving while ensuring the foster child gets the care they need.

Northern Virginia Family Services offers both options for Virginia foster families. Learn more about the program and how to enroll for a day, a weekend, or a week in this brochure.

Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF) is another program offering respite services for foster children. This program is available statewide. Learn more about the services offered and how to apply here.

Other respite and therapeutic services may be available through your local school district or DFS.

Who Should Foster Parents Contact During a Crisis?

In a crisis, who is the point of contact?

Call the assigned caseworker or the placing agency's after-hours number first. Any foster family should know how to reach the responsible party after business hours and what steps to take if a placement is no longer tenable. Of course, 911 is for any immediate danger or medical emergency.

For an emotional or substance use crisis, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 is available, as outlined by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. But 988 does not replace the need to report a placement emergency to the caseworker and follow the agency’s protocol.

Working With Your Caseworker

In many ways, the caseworker is the most useful source of help for the household. This person coordinates the care plan and answers questions about the child’s goals, appointments, or daily care needs. It is better to voice a concern early on than let it become unmanageable.

Case Planning and Everyday Questions

The caseworker can field questions about the child’s goals, appointments, or daily care requirements. It is better to voice a concern early on than let it become unmanageable.

School and Medical Coordination

For school matters or medical referrals, the caseworker can clarify consent and authority.

Family Visits and Transportation

The same goes for family visits; the caseworker will outline the foster parent’s role in logistics and transportation.

Respite and Additional Services

If caregiving demands start to mount, the caseworker should be made aware. A worker is available to advise on options for respite, therapeutic services, further training, or other forms of assistance. It is also advisable to document important instructions, appointments, or requests in writing; this clear communication helps ensure the care team consistently addresses the child's needs.

Supporting Reunification: The Foster Parent’s Role

In Virginia, reunification is typically the primary permanency goal when circumstances warrant it. By definition, this means safely returning a child to their parents. Foster parents play an instrumental role by providing a stable environment as the family works with social services to address the issues that led to the placement.

To support the process, a foster parent might help the child prepare for visits with the family, be mindful of ties with siblings and parents, and keep the caseworker informed of relevant observations.

All of this should follow the child’s visitation and transition plans. It is not the place of the foster parent to view the biological parents as rivals or to unilaterally decide if the child is to go home.

The proper legal and case-planning channels handle these matters, with the child’s welfare first. If reunification proves unfeasible, other avenues include adoption, guardianship, or kinship care. In that case, the caseworker can lay out the plan and how best to support the child through the change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Foster Parents Get Paid in Virginia?

Most foster parents receive monthly maintenance to cover a child’s living costs, plus an annual clothing allowance. Enhanced payments may be available for those with assessed needs. These are support payments for the child, not a salary. Verify the rates and payment method with the placing agency.

Who Do I Call in a Foster Care Crisis?

For urgent matters or placement concerns, contact the placing agency's after-hours line or the child’s caseworker. A medical emergency or immediate danger calls for 911. For a crisis of an emotional, mental health, or substance use nature, call or text 988.

Do Foster Children Receive Medicaid in Virginia?

They do. According to Foster Virginia, children in the system have Medicaid to cover necessary treatment. The caseworker can point you in the right direction to access that coverage.

Is Respite Care Available to Virginia Foster Parents?

Yes, either planned or in an emergency, though the responsible agency must approve it. Any arrangement must conform to the child’s safety and care plan, and the provider must meet the requirements.

Can Foster Parents Receive Childcare Assistance?

If a resource parent works away from home, local departments will provide market-rate funding for childcare, Foster Virginia says. Before making arrangements, check with the caseworker about who is approved and what authorization requires.

Conclusion

Being a foster parent in Virginia involves more than the initial training. From caseworker guidance to peer support and financial and service supports like Medicaid and respite, families have the resources to handle the practical and emotional side of fostering.

The best way to start is to establish a good rapport with the caseworker. Find out what's available and who to call in an emergency. Knowing the system lets you put a plan in place and give the child the steady, secure care he or she deserves.