What is a foster home?
A foster home is a temporary home for youth who have been abused, neglected, abandoned, and/or have special needs. These youth have been removed from their homes/families due to safety concerns.
About Foster Care
AI Summary
Read time: 1.5 minutes
Updated: May 6, 2026
A foster parent is a trained and approved adult who provides a
Want to understand more about foster care in Virginia? The videos in this section answer the big questions like what foster care is, how the Virginia foster care system works, and the goals for children and families. It’s the perfect starting point if you’re exploring whether fostering is right for you.
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.
More videos about Foster Care and Adoption
Video Summary
Watch time: 1:35
In 2023, more than 527,000 children were served in U.S. foster care, including 5,687 in the state of Virginia in July 2025. Kids enter care for many reasons: abuse, neglect, addiction, incarceration, abandonment, or voluntary placement by struggling parents. Each circumstance is unique, but all foster children share the need for safety, stability, and love. Foster care offers a chance for healing and permanency, often through adoption. With patience and compassion, foster parents can make a life-changing difference for children in crisis.
More videos about Foster Care and Adoption
What if the child lives and goes to school in another area than I currently live? Can they still be placed with me?
ESP receives referrals, from localities throughout the state of Virginia, for youth who are in need of a placement. If you are outside of the area from the referral, the youth can be placed. It is possible their schools and service providers would need to be transferred.
What is an emergency placement?
Emergency placements occur if a child comes into care less than 72 hours and needs a placement right away. This may occur in the middle of the night or the next day.
It also may be for various reasons such as abuse allegations, youth living in unsafe conditions, drug abuse and/or neglect by biological parents, emergency situations with the current foster home, etc.
AI Summary
Read time: 7 minutes
Updated: May 8, 2026
Helping families access the right support through the Children's Services Act (CSA)
AI Summary
Read time: 9 minutes
Updated: Oct 2, 2025
AI Summary
Read time: 11 minutes
Updated: Oct 2, 2025