Support and Resources for Foster Care and Adoption

How To Volunteer and Support Foster Kids

As a volunteer, you can make a difference in the lives of foster youth in Virginia. Volunteer opportunities are plentiful if you are interested in helping kids in the foster care system that may also be waiting to be adopted.

November Is Adoption Awareness Month: What Should You Know?

In 1976, the governor of Massachusetts, Mike Dukakis, wanted to raise awareness about the state's growing number of foster children. Hoping to promote more adoptive families, Dukakis proclaimed the first week of November 'Adoption Week'.

Eight years later, President Ronald Reagan made 'Adoption Week' a national event. And in the year 1995, President Bill Clinton extended the week-long event to one month and proclaimed November as the national adoption month.

What Happens to Foster Children When They Turn 18?

Are you interested in learning about older foster children? Would you mind reading to understand what it means to age out of the foster care system? The challenges that our foster youth will have?

Caring for Children in Foster Care During COVID-19

How to look after a Foster child in the Covid-19 pandemic

Safety a Disney movie shows a freshman at clemson fostering

Disney's new movie, "Safety," is an inspiring movie based on actual events that highlight the pros and cons of the child welfare system within the United States.  The movie follows the story of a college football player at Clemson University in South Carolina who took on the legal guardian rights and responsibilities of his 11-year-old brother.

The many roles at the table of foster care

There is always a need for foster parents who will work with children of all ages in the United States. However, you don't have to be a foster parent to have a seat at the table. Are you looking for ideas on your role in foster care, how to support, or where to start? Here are some ways to find your seat at the table in the foster care system.

How to help a child who is returning to school after Covid 19

Children and those in Foster care will face challenges when returning to school after the COVID-19 pandemic.

A child I know has been taken into foster care. Can I help?

How can I help a child who has entered foster care that I know? A roadmap to ways to practically help.

Returning A Foster Child To Biological Family: The Foster Parent's Role

So often, we focus on the beginning of the fostering journey. That is undoubtedly important, as many people want to know what they've signed up for as foster parents.

Equally important is helping youth and families through their path to permanency and eventually helping youth transition back to their biological families. When people find out that I work in the foster care realm, the phrase "I just don't think I could let them go," referring to the children, comes up in almost every conversation.

Foster Children Demographics in Virginia

Many children come into DSS custody each year. Consider these all these statistics from VDSS as you learn more about the foster care system across Virginia as of August 2022:

As you may know, a foster family cares for children in foster care. Here are the demographic statistics for children in Foster care in VA.

What is a treatment team in Foster Care in Virginia?

What is a Treatment team in Foster care in Virginia?

Self-Care Tips For Foster Parents

Caring for children in foster care can be deeply rewarding, but it also comes with stress and emotional demands.  That's why foster parents must prioritize self-care.  Self-care encompasses not only physical and mental health, but also emotional, professional, financial, social, and spiritual well-being.  By practicing self-care, foster parents can create balance, learn more about themselves, improve their mood, and ensure they are better equipped to care for others.

Why Are Kinship Placements Important For A Child?

Why is Kinship care necessary for a family and a child?

How to Introduce a Foster Child to Friends and Family

This conversation should be tailored to the age and developmental level of the foster or adoptive child; children and youth will have different preferences depending if you are talking to your nuclear family or extended family members. Young people will be very open to guiding you.

Disciplining Foster Children With Trauma: A Guide

Disciplining Your Foster children who enter the Foster care system may have been through a significant amount of trauma that has stemmed from abuse, neglect, or any other situation that may have impacted their lives in an unhealthy way from their biological family members. This guide will help you use positive discipline for a foster child with trauma.

Fostering, Adoption and Biological Parent Relationships

So how do we juggle biological children and children in foster care? How do we ensure the biological and foster child feels loved and nurtured? Here are some ways to create and continue a positive environment for your family and extended family members.

Medicaid & ACA for children aging out of foster care in VA

The ACA ensures that foster youth in Virginia can access Medicaid until the age of 26, providing free healthcare during early adulthood.

The Importance of Keeping Foster Siblings Together in VA

When children in the United States are placed in foster care one of the most important things to do is to keep sibling groups together. Separating a sibling group can cause so much more harm to a child who is already dealing with so much change and trauma.

Fostering the child and the family

When a family starts considering the idea of fostering, typically, a relationship with that child's biological family is the furthest thing from their mind. 

How to talk to children about COVID-19 age appropriate guide

Talking to Foster kids about Covid-19

Disney's "Safety" and how it relates to child welfare in VA

Disney's Safety shows why kinship care matters in Virginia foster care.  Learn how relatives provide stability, reduce trauma, and keep families connected.

Maintaining Relationships with Foster Youth After Returning Home

So often, when speaking about fostering youth, there is an unspoken fear of "losing" the children once they return home. But in many situations, that does not have to be the case.

Fostering Futures For Children In Virginia Foster Care

The Fostering Futures assistance program enables LDSS to provide financial and social services for foster care recipients up to the age of 21.  Suppose you turned 18 in foster care or a DJJ while having been in foster care after July 1st, 2016.  In that case, you're eligible to participate in this program supported by the local government agencies and the Virginia social services department.  A voluntary program gives you $500 monthly to cover housing, food, clothing, supplies, education, and job training assistance.

Foster Parenting Tips for Navigating a Mental Health Crisis

How to help foster children with a mental health crisis

Contact the Virginia Department of Social Services DSS

The names and address below is a complete list of state and local Department of Social Services Directors and Regional Director. We have also listed their phone numbers and addresses for your convenience of over 120 local departments of social services. I hope this helps you locate the services and support you need from your local DSS. 

 

Where will my Foster or Adoptive child attend school?

When foster children are placed in the home, one of the most frequently asked questions is: where will my children attend school, and what are my rights? This is an excellent question with an answer involving many different education agencies, child welfare systems, and laws.

How to Talk About Today’s Protests With Foster Children

Nationwide protests over the death of George Floyd have dominated our cities and the world over. 

Back to school and distance learning tips for Foster parents

How to help your kid learn with distance learning

Is it Hard to Get Approved to be a Foster Parent in Virginia?

Training foster parents and guiding them as they navigate the process to become certified and licensed parents.  An in-depth look at the process of certification

Questions for a Child Placing Agency (CPA) Virginia in 2025

Your local Child Placing Agencies (CPAs) in Virginia have over 100 service providers who care for more than 5,500 children in foster care who need a bed for the night within Virginia.

When is it safe to send a Foster Child back to daycare in VA

All children, including children and youth in foster care, need safe daycare with high standards in Virginia. Precautions taken by the daycares will keep all our families safe during this scary and uncertain time.

Glossary of terms for Foster care and Adoptive parents

For seasoned and new foster and adoptive parents, the world of foster care is ever-evolving, requiring constant adaptation. With the continuum of meetings, court hearings, visitations, etc., foster care/adoption has an influx of terminology, and child welfare agencies are always looking for new acronyms to help!

What is a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)

The National CASA volunteer office wants to give every foster child an Advocate. Advocates are qualified and amazing people who step up and put the time and effort into providing the courts with an accurate picture of the child's perspective and best interests.

Superheroes who became Kinship families a How to Guide.

A how-to guide to being a kinship care foster parent for a friend or family member, we will help you understand who can be a kinship care foster parent and some of the rules

Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) : Parental Tips

A new foster parent enters the school to enroll their newly placed foster child. The infamous question is, "Does your child have an IEP?" (Individualized Education Plan)? You are aware that your child faces some academic challenges, and there's a document in your packet of information that should be presented to the school.  You begin flipping through the papers, and there is the Individualized Education Plan IEP.

Breaking The News That You'Re A Foster Parent: Telling Family

When a family wishes to bring a foster child into a family member's home, some planning is always good. A child in foster care will be nervous about the first visit, just like any child in foster care or just visiting a stranger for the first time. Taking them from your foster home to a family member must be successful. First impressions are important for vulnerable children, and caring for the child while the visit is taking place is critical. Here are three tips for licensed foster parents from our team of family services specialists; we hope it helps.

Foster Parent Self-care Guide for Coronavirus - COVID-19

Covid 19 and Foster care strategies to help in an environment of fear

Maybe the best therapist has a cold nose and a wagging tail.

How are therapeutic dogs used in foster care in Virginia?  What impact do these dogs have on kids who encounter a wagging tail during stress and confusion?

How to become a foster or adoptive parent in Virginia

Becoming a foster parent in Virginia is a journey that begins with finding a licensed child-placing agency, completing training, and going through the home study process.  Each step is designed to prepare you for the unique needs of children in foster care who have experienced trauma and loss.  By opening your heart and home, you provide stability, healing, and hope for a child who truly needs it.

How To Help Foster Children or Adoptive Kids In Virginia

One recurring question I am asked is this: "How can I help our foster kids in Virginia?" Well, here are a few suggestions to help you do your part. 

Become a foster parent- There will be over 5,500 children in foster care in Virginia in 2025. Of these children, 1,800 have the goal of adoption, and more than 600 are waiting for adoptive families.

Animal Assisted Interventions In Foster Care: Support Animals

Jax, III, is a facility/pet therapy dog from Canine Companions for Independence.  He is a 5-year-old Labrador/Golden Retriever cross.  Jax was carefully bred and expertly trained, specifically for working with children, so he is friendly, fun, very sweet, and gentle.  Jax is trustworthy in professional environments and can perform over 40 commands designed to motivate and inspire the children we serve.

Questions To Ask Before Your First Foster Care Placement

After receiving the child's initial information from the referring worker, we meet and discuss our available families to consider household space and family makeup. We also consider conversations you have had with your Family Advocate, Trainers, and Family Services Specialist regarding what "type" of the child you would like to serve; this will include age, gender, child IEP needs, sibling group, and daycare needs, and many more areas to make sure your parenting plan will work this child for any visitation schedule that may be court ordered.

Aged Out: How to Help Teenagers in Virginia Foster Care

These youth usually do not have a stable family they can rely on for assistance. Depending on the state where they live, young adults in foster care "age out" of the foster care system at either 18 or 21.  Aging out is the process that occurs when youth must leave the foster care system because they were never adopted and are too old to stay in care. In Virginia, a child may transition to "Fostering Futures" and receive modest financial assistance until they reach the age of 21.  Only about 50% of foster youth will complete a high school diploma.

How many Foster Families are in the USA? What to Know.

The number dropped from 218,927 in 2019 to 214,421 in 2020.  Please read on to learn more about foster care and what it means to children in need of homes.

How Does Foster Care Work?

In Virginia, foster care is a temporary service that protects children when their parents cannot care for them, often due to neglect, abuse, or unsafe homes.  The state's Department of Social Services establishes rules, while Child Placing Agencies (CPAs) manage day-to-day care, supervise foster homes, and coordinate services such as counseling or schooling.  System-level coordination among federal, state, and local agencies ensures that each child receives safe and stable support until they reunify with their family or find a permanent home.

What Is a Child Placing Agency and How Do They Help Me?

If you are thinking of becoming a foster or adoptive parent, a licensed Child Placing Agency (CPA) can help you. Read on to learn more about what a CPA is and how they support you

Signs of Abuse: The different types of child abuse

What are the signs and symptoms of child abuse? Foster parents have a chance to help and protect the children in their care if they educate themselves on this subject.

Sex Trafficking and Precautions for kids in Foster Care

Foster youth in Virginia are at high risk of sex trafficking, with studies showing up to 80% of victims having been in foster care. Children without stable support are more vulnerable to grooming and abuse. Foster parents can help protect them by building trust, recognizing warning signs, and providing safe, loving homes.

How Do Post Adoption Services Help New Adoptive Parents

Post-adoption services in Virginia help families adjust after adoption with free support such as case management, respite care, crisis support, training, and parent groups.  These services reduce stress, provide resources, and strengthen family stability, enabling children to thrive in their forever homes. Counseling and advocacy are also available statewide.

What are ACEs used for within Child Trauma treatment?

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) score is a tally of different types of abuse, neglect, and other hallmarks of a rough childhood. 

What is Child Protective Services in Virginia?

Child Protective Services (CPS) check on over 7.9 million children after receiving a report of suspected child abuse or neglect in the USA.

Recognizing adult grooming behavior & take action against it

Anyone can do grooming. Any man, woman, or child that has power over the victim can use that power to manipulate and abuse them. Predators use grooming to manipulate the victim into trusting them so they can abuse or traffic them later. As a foster parent, you should be aware of these signs of grooming.

How Many Foster Kids Graduate from High School?

High school graduation rates for foster youth are much lower than those of the general population, with just over half earning a diploma.  Frequent school changes, unstable placements, and a lack of long-term support create barriers to success.  Stability, consistent schooling, and supportive foster families have a significant impact on improving educational outcomes for children in care.

Kinship Care and How it Relates to Foster Care in Virginia

Kinship care involves placing a child with a family member, meaning that a child removed from their home lives with a relative or family friend instead of a foster family.  However, there are varying levels of kinship care.

Juvenile Incarceration and Foster Care the Impact on Kids

Over 700,000 youths face adjudication in the juvenile justice system each year in the United States.

These individuals have a significantly higher risk for future criminality.

The Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) oversees juvenile justice services. DJJ involves law enforcement, mental health professionals, schools, and social services. Other agencies consult ad hoc for individual cases at juvenile detention centers.

Your Faith and Foster Care: Bonding and Strengthening

Are you searching for ways to strengthen your faith? More than 69,000 young people are living in group homes.

Foster Children Pregnancy Statistics

Getting pregnant in foster care is not unusual for young women. Yet, there are significant consequences for the parents, the children, and our communities.

What Does LGBTQ and LGBTQIA+ Mean?

You've probably heard the initialism of LGBT or LGBTQ before. You might not know what it means or why it keeps getting longer. The full version is LGBTQIA+, but it's only recently that it was expanded. Even among the LGBTQ community, some people use LGBT or LGBT+. 

United Methodist Family Services of Virginia (UMFS)

United Methodist Church no longer owns the organization. However, the organization maintains a partnership with the church. UMFS President and CEO Nacy Toscano, PhD, LCSW.

Nancy Toscano has been with the UMFS since April 2021.

UMFS is a nonprofit organization with locations in Virginia. The organization aims to support foster kids, teens, and parents through various programs. Also, they work to pinpoint social services' needs and address them. UMFS is not affiliated with FosterVA.

The United Methodist Family Services focuses on helping high-risk children. 

Foster Care to Success: A Complete Guide

The nonprofit organization, Foster Care to Success (FC2S), strives to help young, college-bound foster care adults. The organization provides information, support, and funding to help kids continue their education. 

FC2S provides grants, living stipends, book money, and emergency funding. They offer access to academic coaches, personal mentors, and internship opportunities. 

Some programs FC2S provides: 

Academic success coaching Education training vouchers

Five foster care appreciation ideas

Do you want to show your support for a social worker or foster parent? If so, these foster care appreciation ideas are an excellent place to start. Here are just five foster care appreciation ideas you may consider when you are showing your care.

Co-Parenting With Birth Parents in Foster Care

Co-parenting is when a foster parent shares the responsibilities of caring for a foster child with the biological parents and the caseworker assigned to the child. There are many ways to co-parent, and no case will be the same. The key is to consider the child's needs and try to help them as much as possible. 

When Your Spouse Wants to Foster

If your spouse has brought up the possibility, you might want to learn about how the process works or find out if it's a good option for the two of you to start a foster care journey. 

Fostering, like any form of parenting, is a combined effort, and it involves working closely together and adapting to the needs of the child in your care. There are many changes to consider, but there are also many new opportunities that can strengthen your marriage and family life. 

8 Most Common Fostering Challenges

Although fostering is an excellent way to improve a child's life, there are times when it may feel like an uphill battle.  Whether you're fostering for the first time or you've been raising foster children for years, you'll have to face different obstacles. 

This is a regular part of parenting; remember that you're not alone.  We're here to advise you on how to address the eight most common fostering challenges.  Learn how to navigate challenging behaviors, saying goodbye, and the uncertainties that come with it. 

Financial Literacy for Youth in Foster Care

Financial literacy is simply the ability to understand and apply financial skills. Financial literacy includes budgeting, investing, managing finances, using credit cards, and understanding credit reports, among other skills. 

Foster Parenting... Is It Right for You? 5 Questions to Ask

Foster parenting...is it right for you? Maybe your spouse or partner brought up the topic, or you've been thinking about it yourself. You can change many lives by bringing a foster child into your home, but there are some questions you need to ask yourself first. Parents have a lot to manage, from providing love and care to financially providing for their entire family. Understanding these foster parent responsibilities will help you prepare for the journey.

The Role of Education in Foster Care and Adoption

Children in the foster care system may suffer even more from academic setbacks. Disruptions in their home environment due to new placements and starting over in a different school can negatively affect their academic success.

As a foster or adoptive parent, it's crucial to understand the role of education in foster care. You have a direct impact on their futures.

Here's what you need to know on the subject and why learning matters so much in foster care.

Understanding the Emotional Impact of Foster Parenting:

There are indeed unique challenges that foster families face. Most children in the foster care system have experienced some trauma. As such, the best parenting approach may differ from what you're used to.

First, foster parents must undergo the licensing process, which can take some time. During this time, aspiring foster parents must attend training, complete a home study, and ensure that their homes meet all state standards.

Questions Couples Should Ask Before Becoming Foster Parents

Are you considering becoming foster parents but are unsure if you are truly ready?  Read this guide to learn the ten questions couples should consider before becoming foster parents.

Guide to Child Protective Services (CPS) in VA: How CPS Supports Families & Children

In Virginia, the role of Child Protective Services (CPS) goes beyond mere supervision; it's a lifeline for those in need. As of 2023, there were over 5,000 children in foster care in Virginia, a number that has been steadily increasing over the years. Think of CPS as a shield and a guide-they're not just about intervening in crises; they're about building a safer future for our little ones.

Expanding Our Reach: Supporting Foster Kids Across the U.S.

We help foster children, but how much we can help depends on finding, training, and certifying foster parents.  Facing nearly 527,000 children in the United States foster care system in 2023, the task can feel overwhelming.  At FosterVA, helping children in foster care is deeply meaningful to us.  FosterUSKids is the only national resource for individuals seeking to become foster parents.  People can help children and families in many ways.  Perhaps the most needed help is also the most rewarding: providing a safe and nurturing foster home to foster children and teens in need.

Inside Virginia's Foster System: The Structure and Roles of State and Local Agencies Overview of Virginia's Foster Care System

The Virginia foster care system provides 24/7 care for children and youths displaced from their family homes. Children in these programs are wards of the state until they are reunified with family or adopted.

Structure and Functioning of the System

State and local agencies make up the Virginia foster system structure. These agencies provide casework, treatment, and community services to children and youths who are or are at risk for abuse or neglect.

Foster families provide stable and loving housing for at-risk children and youths. The ultimate goal is reunification with the child's parent(s), family members, or adoption.

Making a Difference: Your Path to Foster Parenting in Virginia

Are you considering foster parenting in Virginia? With approximately 20,000 children aging out of the foster care system in the US without finding permanent homes, the decision to become a foster parent is a noble one.

The journey to foster parenting is rewarding and complex, with various steps and considerations. Once approved as a foster parent, you can make a difference in a child's life.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through becoming a foster parent in Virginia, including the requirements, training, and support available to you. Keep reading to get started.

Calculating Foster Care Rates in Virginia: How Payments Are Calculated Introduction to Foster Care Payments in Virginia

The Department of Social Services (DSS) calculates foster care rates in Virginia. Foster care rates determine the monthly, annual, and one-off payments foster parents receive.

The Role and Significance of Financial Support in Fostering

Raising a child is expensive. Foster care payments are designed to reduce the financial burden of accepting a foster child into your home by covering some basic costs.

Breakdown of the Reimbursement Process for Foster Parents

Foster parents receive monthly payments directly from the child-placing agency they worked with.

Ongoing Foster Care Support Resources and Services in Virginia Introduction to Ongoing Training and Support for Foster Parents in Virginia

Ongoing training (also known as in-service training) is a requirement for Virginia foster parents. You must complete at least 10 hours of training annually or 30 hours every three years.

You can also access foster care support in Virginia through peer support groups and professional services.

The Importance of Continuous Learning and Foster Care Support in Virginia

Every foster child is different, and even the same child will change as they develop or encounter new life challenges. These factors make continuous learning as a foster parent crucial for improving child welfare outcomes.

Yet, taking courses on subjects like the impact of trauma or how to handle behavioral issues is not always enough. A foster care support community made up of fellow foster parents and other players in the foster system can help to fill in the gaps.

2023 Virginia Foster Care Statistics and Trends

Virginia's foster care system remains an integral yet complex part of the state's social fabric.

It's a crucial safety net for vulnerable children. So, the system's performance, trends, and outcomes reflect the current state of societal health. They also forecast future societal challenges and opportunities.

Today, we're looking at the Virginia foster care statistics for 2023. We'll examine the data to examine the system's current trends, outcomes, and the impact of recent policies.

Becoming a Foster Parent in Virginia: Essential Criteria

Now more than ever, there is a need for foster parents in Virginia due to the increasing number of children placed in state care. As of 2025, there are over 5,500 children currently in state care. These children need a loving home that supports them through their needs.

Over 20,000 children leave the USA foster care every year without having a permanent home to go to.  These children need the resources and support from good foster parents to live independent and successful lives. If not, they will end up on the streets again.

Preparing Your Home for Foster Parenting in Virginia

Preparing your home for foster parenting in Virginia requires careful attention to detail. It's about making the space safe and creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for children. This preparation is essential as it lays the groundwork for a good experience for you and the kids you'll care for. 

Ensuring your home is childproof and offering emotional support are vital parts of this process. Every little thing you do adds up to the child's well-being. When you prepare your home well, you're following the rules and showing dedication to giving these vulnerable children a happy and stable home. Your efforts truly make a difference in their lives.

Financial Instability and Foster Care in Virginia

Addressing financial instability is paramount to improving outcomes for foster children and families in Virginia. By recognizing vulnerable families and communities' unique challenges, stakeholders can develop targeted interventions and policies that promote stability, resilience, and positive outcomes. Through collaboration, advocacy, and community engagement, we can create a more equitable and supportive environment where all children have the opportunity to thrive. 

 

Financial Support Available to Foster Parents in Virginia

Are you a foster parent in Virginia? You can get help with money to take care of the kids you're looking after. This help includes getting monthly money for food, clothes, and a place to live for the child. You might also get help with medical costs, like paying for the child's health insurance. 

The Importance of Support Networks for Foster Parents in Virginia

Support networks are vital for foster parents in Virginia. They provide emotional support, access to resources, and opportunities for education and advocacy. Peer support and community connections offer solidarity, while practical assistance and respite care alleviate burdens. With ongoing guidance and recognition, these networks empower foster parents to provide loving, stable homes for needy children.

Addressing Trauma and Healing in Foster Children in Virginia

Trauma affects foster kids a lot in Virginia. It messes with how they feel inside. These kids often went through some tough stuff before coming to stay with you. This can leave deep emotional scars that show up in different ways. They might act out, feel sad, or struggle to trust anyone. Moving from their old homes to yours can make things even harder. 

 

Supporting the Educational Needs of Foster Children in Virginia

Foster care in Virginia can affect siblings. When you and your siblings are separated, it can be challenging. It might make you feel sad or upset. Studies have shown that when siblings are in the foster care system, they can go through a lot of tough stuff. Moving around to different homes can make it even harder. Sometimes, there aren't enough resources to help, making things even more difficult. 

AFCARS Report 2024 -Updated May 9th 2024

The AFCARS report, which includes the most up-to-date data as of May 2024 compiled by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is a comprehensive analysis of adoption and foster care in the United States.

The Role of Foster Care Agencies in Virginia

Virginia's Foster care agencies are important for helping vulnerable children and families. They help find homes for children, provide resources, and ensure that children are safe and doing well. These agencies work with many people, such as social workers, caregivers, and community groups. Their goal is to give kids who've been through tough times a stable place to live. 

The Importance of Self-Care for Foster Parents in Virginia

Taking care of yourself is super important as a foster parent in Virginia. It helps you stay healthy in body, mind, and heart while caring for kids who need you. If you forget to take care of yourself, you might get really tired and lose your ability to give great care. So, taking breaks is crucial, as is asking for help when needed and doing things that make you happy. 

 

The Role of Birth Parents in the Foster Care System in Virginia

Birth parents are important in foster care. They have rights and can get help. By being involved in planning, they help their child. They can make a good impact on their child's life. They can bring their family back together by working hard and speaking up. They can also make a safe place for their kids. Going through challenges with strength leads to good results for families.

 

The Benefits of Respite Care for Foster Parents in Virginia

Respite care is necessary for foster parents in Virginia. It gives them relief, support, and chances to grow personally. When foster parents care for themselves and use resources, they can better care for their children while staying healthy. Respite care doesn't just help individual families—it also strengthens and stabilizes the foster care community.

 

Supporting LGBTQ+ Foster Youth in Virginia

Supporting LGBTQ+ foster youth in Virginia is important. We must ensure they're safe, happy, and have the same chances as everyone else. By creating welcoming environments, we help them do well. This support is crucial because LGBTQ+ foster youth face unique challenges like discrimination and rejection. We can help by having good policies and programs in place. These can help them reach their goals.

 

Addressing Racial Disparities in the Foster Care System in Virginia

Addressing racial disparities in Virginia's foster care system is essential. You need to ensure all children have fair chances. African American and Hispanic kids are often in foster care. They stay longer and struggle to find permanent homes. Virginia needs to fix these issues. They can make the foster care system fairer. 

Starting Your Adoption Journey: A Step-by-Step Guide for Prospective Parents

Starting an adoption journey is a big decision. You have to think about it carefully and get ready. Follow these steps to help you along the way. Stay informed and know what's happening. It might seem tricky, but you can do it with confidence. Be patient and stay positive. Trust that things will work out. Being a parent has ups and downs, but it's worth it. Your journey to having a loving family is special and brings lots of happiness.

 

Supporting Your Foster Child: Tips for Navigating Challenges Together

Supporting your foster child isn't just necessary; it's crucial for their growth. Your help, presence, and love make a safe and caring place for them to do well. They feel secure and supported when you're around, helping them handle tough times and make a better tomorrow.

 

Healing Together: Supporting Foster Children Through Trauma

Healing together is essential for helping foster kids deal with tough stuff. It gives them a safe place to talk about their feelings and learn to trust others. Foster kids go through a lot, like being hurt or left alone, so healing is essential for them to feel better. With everyone's support, they can learn to handle challenging situations, be strong, and feel good about themselves. 

 

The Power of Patience: Waiting for Your Adoptive Match

Patience is crucial when waiting for an adoptive match. It ensures the correct game, fostering a robust and lasting bond. Rushing may lead to regrets or mismatches. Patience allows thorough vetting, providing compatibility for the child and the adoptive family. It's about readiness, emotionally and practically, for a lifelong commitment. 

From Foster to Forever: The Path to Adoption

Adoption gives kids stability, love, and a forever home, especially after they've been through tough times. It makes them feel like they fit in and are safe, which is essential for how they feel inside. It gives them a shot at doing well in a caring home, ending all the ups and downs. Adoption meets a basic human need for family and being part of something, helping kids feel like they belong. When prioritizing adoption, we ensure that the future generation grows happy and ready to do great things.

The Role of Adoption Agencies: How They Support You Through the Process

Adoption agencies are necessary for people looking to adopt.  They help with all the complicated legal stuff and ensure everything follows the rules.  These agencies also offer advice and training to help you prepare emotionally and practically for adoption.

Foster Child Welfare

Child welfare in foster care is a very vital aspect of social services that offer protection and well-being to children who cannot stay with their biological families because of different reasons such as child abuse, neglect, and parental problems, among others. This system aims to create a secure and favorable environment for these kids wherein they can be placed with foster families temporarily or permanently. There are significant physical, emotional, educational, and developmental elements involved in a foster child’s welfare.

Foster Parent Qualifications

Fostering a child is a big decision requiring much thinking and preparation. It is a promise to give your heart and home to a child who has possibly suffered trauma, loss, or neglect. It is all about providing them with the stability, care, and support they need to grow. The requirements to become a foster parent are more than just simple boxes on a list. They incorporate personal traits, practical skills, and emotional awareness.

 

Legal and Financial Aspects within Foster care and Adoption

Adopting or fostering a child in Virginia is one of the most fulfilling decisions. It has legal and financial implications and requirements that every planned foster or adoptive parent should know. This report documents the legal procedures, costs, advantages, and resources for foster and adoptive parents in Virginia.

Foster Care Training & Skills

Training is needed to become a foster parent in Virginia. This training makes you aware of the needs of children in foster care. It also helps you learn how to take care of them. The training has several areas. You will be able to understand child development, the impact of trauma, and verbal and non-verbal communication. 

Fall Fun in Norfolk Virginia for Family and Friends

TOP 10 PLACES FOR FAMILY FUN THIS FALL - GRAB THE KIDS AND STEP OUT IN NORFOLK, VIRGINIA

Autumn is here, bringing crisp air, colorful foliage, and endless opportunities for family fun!  Whether you’re into pumpkin patches, hot cider, hayrides, or corn mazes, Norfolk is ready to make your fall unforgettable.  This season features community events perfect for every family – especially those with foster and adopted children.  If this time of year makes you dream of caramel apples or leaf-jumping with the kids, mark these family-friendly events on your calendar and step out with the whole crew to enjoy fall in Virginia. 

Addressing the Gap: Critical Insights into Foster Care and Child Welfare Trends

Virginia faces one of the nation's most challenging foster care crises, with teens and siblings at high risk of aging out without families.  Data shows shifting demographics, rising entries due to parental drug abuse, and longer stays in care.  Experts stress that policy changes, better resources, and more substantial support for foster families are urgently needed.

PRESS RELEASE - National Trends Shaping the Future of Foster Care - 2013-2022

October 11, 2024 – Today, FosterVA, a foster care partner serving Virginia foster youth, released a new analysis and whitepaper after reviewing more than two decades of AFCARS (Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System) data.  FosterVA highlighted potential gaps and misinterpretations in current child welfare strategies that may leave more foster children, teens, and families without the resources they urgently need. 

“Downward trends in the number of children in foster care may seem like cause for celebration,” explained Nanette Jorge, President of FosterVA and partnering agency, Extra Special Parents (ESP). “Instead, our recent whitepaper highlights a myriad of trends that indicate the decreases may be a result of capacity limitation, rather than a decrease in the number of children who urgently need our help." 

The analysis and whitepaper call for a new approach to foster care; one that increases resources to understand trends and identify needs, provides intervention alternatives, and robust, culturally competent support of foster children and families in the system, as well as foster teens who age out of care.  Five key trends and disparities include:

How to Support Foster Children and Foster Care in Virginia Without Fostering

Foster care is a method of alternate family care for those children who are placed outside their homes because of abuse, neglect, or other adverse conditions. In Virginia alone, there are thousands of children in foster care, and fostering is just one way that one can help. Here are some tips that will help you to support foster children and foster care programs in Virginia even if you are not ready to be a foster parent. Here is some practical and significant information on how you can contribute.

 

Foster Care System Facts Across the US & Virginia

This blog explores the U.S. foster care system with a focus on Virginia, highlighting national statistics, age demographics, average length of stay, and permanency outcomes.  It contrasts Virginia's challenges, such as high numbers of teens in care, longer stays, and low reunification rates, with national trends.  The piece also addresses myths and facts about foster care, including kinship care, group homes, and aging out.  It concludes with a call for community involvement and practical steps toward supporting foster children.