Foster care is a state mandated program that provides a substitute family life experience to children in the community who, for a temporary period of time, cannot be with their own. The court places the child in custody of Social Services, and foster parents in the community open their hearts and their homes to the child in need.

Foster parents, or resource parents, could be the retired couple down the street, a single woman you work with, a school librarian, local volunteer firefighter, and many others. Foster parents are not super heroes - they are community members with a vested interest in the children of their communities who share their home, time, and energy with children who have special needs due to abuse or neglect

A child’s stay in foster care may be as short as one overnight stay or longer depending on the needs of the child and their family. An average stay for a child in Virginia is 12 to 24 months.

The goal of foster care is always reunification. When this is not possible due certain circumstances, parental rights may be terminated and the child may be eligible for adoption or prepared for adult living independently.

No. In foster care, Social Services has legal custody of the child and assumes ultimate responsibility. With adoption, custody and responsibility for the child belong to the adoptive family.

Yes! Single and working parents may be certified as foster parents; however, it may affect the type and ages of children who can be placed with you.

Foster parents will receive a maintenance payment on behalf of the child to help with expenses while the child is in their home. Children are also covered under Medicaid for dental, medical, and mental health coverage.

There are 3 main steps. First, complete a pre-service training program. Next, a home study is completed through home visits, interviews, references, criminal and DMV background checks. Finally, a committee reviews everything a approves foster families. Once approved you will be eligible to both foster and adopt a child.

For more information or to start the process to become a foster parent, contact Audrey Sears at (804) 580 - 3477.