Foster Care
The Foster Care Program provides for the temporary placement and supervision of a child or children placed in the custody of this agency by the court. While in foster care, a social worker will work together with the child or children’s family to address the family’s needs that brought the child or children into foster care.
Foster Care Goals
It is the goal of the Foster Care Program to provide permanency to children by:
- Adoption or independent living, for older youth
- Placement with an appropriate relative
- Returning the child or children to the parent or prior custodian
For additional information, please contact the program supervisors at 804-717-6826.
Our Foster Care Permanency Team provides safe, alternate family care to children temporarily placed outside their home as a result of:
- Abuse
- Neglect
- Serious family problems
More Information
For additional information contact the Lead Family Services Specialist at 804-717-6194.
The Family Services Specialist recruits, trains and approves resource foster homes for temporary placement of children placed in the custody of Social Services.
We believe in the power of family and community.
Become a Resource Foster Parent
Our need for Resource Homes is ongoing, especially needed are foster resource parents for:
- Siblings - pairs and groups
- Stay at home parents are also very beneficial
- Teens and older children
Resource Parents
Provide a safe, alternate family care to children temporarily placed outside their home as a result of abuse, neglect or serious family problems. Requirements include:
- Must be at least 21
- Must be able to provide a safe, secure, structured, happy home
- Have sufficient income to meet their own needs
- Commit to meeting the individual needs of children
- Be willing to work in partnership with children, birth parents, and our agency to provide permanency to children
- Complete PRIDE training
- Complete a Mutual Family Assessment (home study process which provides an opportunity for the worker and family to decide if becoming a foster, adoptive, or resource provider is a viable option for the family)
Supports to Resource Parent
To help support resource parents caring for a child in foster care, our resource parents receive:
- A stipend for room, board, clothing and related expenses
- Ongoing training and support including workshops, social events and a foster parent support group
- Occasional respite services for the foster child
- Day care services for working resource parents
- State Medicaid for medical expenses for all foster children
- WIC for infants and toddlers
- Support and contact from the Family Development Specialist
Fostering & Training
Interested in becoming a Foster Parent? Information Sessions are held monthly (PDF) and registration is required. You can also contact the Lead Family Services Specialist at 804-717-6194 to get more information on fostering and upcoming trainings.