What are the responsibilities of a foster parent?
Aside from providing a loving, safe and nurturing environment, there are other needs for youth placed in your home. These include but are not limited to:
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Updated: Jun 5, 2026
When a child goes to live in a di
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Foster care in Virginia comes with important financial and legal details to understand. Here you’ll find clear, straightforward videos on foster care stipends, reimbursements, licensing, and policies that matter to foster parents. These resources simplify the practical side of fostering so you can focus on what matters most, the children in your care.
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Video Summary
Watch time: 1:24
In Virginia, factors that can disqualify you from fostering or adopting include failing required training or income standards, having health or character concerns, maintaining an unsafe home, providing false information, or having a criminal record or child abuse history. Background checks and home studies ensure only safe, stable, and qualified families provide care for children.
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Foster parents in Virginia are not paid a salary but receive a tax-free monthly maintenance stipend to cover the cost of raising a child. Payments are based on the Virginia Enhanced Maintenance Assessment Tool (VEMAT), which evaluates a child's age, needs, and behaviors. As of August 2025, rates range from $580 per month for children aged 0–4, $677 for those aged 5–12, and $861 for individuals aged 13 and older. An annual clothing allowance is also provided, from $376 to $564, depending on age.
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Can I be a Foster parent with a criminal record in Virginia
Many people interested in fostering wonder if a past criminal conviction disqualifies them from doing so. In Virginia, background checks are required for all foster parents and adults in the home. Some offenses, referred to as "barrier crimes," render approval impossible; however, others may be considered if sufficient time has passed and the individual's rights have been restored. Learn more in our full article here: Felonies and Misdemeanors Barriers to Being a Foster Parent?
Is there an income requirement to be a foster parent?
While there is no required salary requirement, foster families must be able to maintain their family’s needs without relying on the reimbursement.