What Happens After You Apply to Foster in Virginia?

After applying for foster parenting in Virginia, you must complete pre-service training, criminal background checks, health screenings, reference checks, and a home study before receiving approval. The process typically takes about 90–120 days, depending on paperwork, background checks, and home visits. Once approved, your agency can consider placements that match your household’s capabilities and a child’s needs.

Knowing what lies ahead makes it easier to get your home and family ready for a possible placement.

What Happens After You Apply for Foster Parenting in Virginia?

After you apply for foster parenting in Virginia, your agency guides you through background and registry checks, health screenings, reference checks, preservice training, and a home study. These steps assess whether your household can provide a safe, stable environment for a child. 

What Training Is Required for Foster Parenting in Virginia?

Training is not just a formality; it gives you a clear understanding of what foster care involves before a child comes into your home. Data show Virginia parents complete about 27 hours of PRIDE pre-service training over several weeks. The curriculum covers the realities of fostering, from child development and safety to positive discipline, grief, trauma, and working with social services. Even after you are licensed, Virginia requires further training so learning continues after approval.

Undergo Background And Household Screening

This is an important part of the process. The state’s Department of Social Services will conduct criminal background investigations on you and any applicable adults in the home. Fingerprint-based checks and child abuse and neglect registry searches are standard. 

The agency may also ask for details on prior residences or other members of the household as needed. Supply this and any other requested materials, whether financial records, driving history, or TB screening, promptly and accurately. Delays in providing records can delay your overall approval.

The Home Study

After you apply, the home study is perhaps the most important phase. Do not think of it as a simple inspection of whether the house is in good order. Your agency will want to discuss your motivation to foster, your support network, your parenting approach, and how you would handle an emergency. They will look at your relationships and experience with children, as well as your financial situation and the ages of children you could take in.

They will also make sure the physical space is safe, checking everything from smoke detectors and first-aid kits to sleeping arrangements and ventilation. 

Virginia Foster Care Requirements and Timeline

Requirements don't end with submitting an application. The agency will review all the information from your training, the home study, and screenings, and if anything is unclear, they will ask for clarification. A final assessment determines whether the household is prepared and whether it needs additional support.

Approval isn't based on a single factor; a home doesn't need to be perfect to be approved, as long as it meets safety and care standards.

As for how long it takes, there is no set timeframe that applies to everyone. FosterVA puts the average at around four months, or 90 to 120 days from the start of training to a finalized assessment. 

But that is an estimate, not a hard deadline. If you have incomplete paperwork, slow references, or rescheduled home visits, the process will take longer. The best way to avoid that is to stay on top of your documents and respond promptly to the agency. 

What Happens After You Are Approved?

Approval puts you in consideration for a placement, but it doesn't guarantee a child will be with you right away. The agency reviews children in need of a home and determines whether their situation is a good fit for your household. That may include a child’s age, any medical or behavioral issues, sibling ties, or other circumstances. Your preferences and capacity are part of the equation, too.

Some families find a placement soon after approval; for others, it takes longer. It depends on whether an appropriate match is available. When a child comes to you, the agency will provide services and oversight. You will work as part of a team with social workers, schools, medical staff, service providers, and the birth family.

What Should You Do While Waiting for Approval? 

While you wait for official approval, there is no reason to do nothing. Use the time to get things in order. Put the finishing touches on your training and set up the child’s room to your agency’s specifications. Talk with those in the house about how foster care might change things, privacy, transport, or daily routines. And if anything changes with your employment, health, or address, let the agency know right away instead of waiting until the next meeting. A little organization goes a long way in preventing delays.

Is It Possible to Both Foster and Adopt in Virginia?

The two are linked but distinct. Foster care is generally temporary, meant to see a child through to a permanency plan, be it with parents or otherwise. If reunification is no longer possible and the child is legally available for adoption, then you may have that option. But one does not automatically lead to the other. Any family considering both should discuss their goals with the agency during the approval process.

FAQs

What is the procedure after I apply in Virginia?

You will complete training, references, background checks, and a home study. The agency will then conduct a final assessment to approve your application.

How much time does it take?

According to FosterVA, four months is typical for most families, but paperwork and home visits can affect the timeline.

What will the home study include?

Expect interviews and some reference checking. The agency wants to ensure the home is safe and suitable, and they will assess your motivation and ability to meet a child’s needs.

Do I get a placement as soon as I am approved?

Not always. It depends on the children in care and what is an appropriate match for you. Some get a call soon after approval; others do not.

Can I choose the child's age?

Your agency will want to discuss what your household can support. They will consider your preference for a certain age range or number of siblings, but the child's needs come first.

Is there a path to adoption?

In some cases, yes, but it is not a given. Adoption is a separate legal matter that only comes when a child is available for adoption.

Any way to sidestep delays?

Stay on top of your paperwork and respond promptly to the agency. Submit your references, and check in from time to time to see if they need anything else from you.