What is Foster Care?
A 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 families. The court places the child in the custody of Social Services.
What Is Traditional Foster Care?
Traditional Foster Care provides approved homes that can offer stable, positive home environments for infants, children and teens, who for various reasons are unable to live with their family. The time the child/teen is in foster care varies, with the average stay being thirty-six months.
Who Are Foster Parents?
Foster parents could be the retired couple next door, the single woman you work with, the clerk in the grocery store, and many others. Foster parents are professional parents who enjoy parenting and are willing to share their home, time, energy, and love with children who have special problems because of abuse or neglect.
Who Are Children In Foster Care?
The children range in age from newborn to 21 years. Most have been victimized by abuse or neglect. Some may be physically or mentally challenged; some may have emotional or behavioral problems left over from their early abuse or neglect. There are many sibling groups (brothers and sisters who should stay together) and children of minority heritage. All the children in foster care need a loving, secure, stable family and home environment.
Where Do Foster Children Come From?
Sometimes as a result of abuse, neglect, abandonment, or a death in the family, courts decide that children must be temporarily separated from their families. These children come from all cultural and economic groups within our community.
How Long Is Temporary?
A child’s stay in foster care may be as short as overnight or longer depending on the needs of the family and child. An average stay is twelve -twenty four months.
What Is The Goal Of Foster Care?
The goal is to reunite the children with their own families. When this is not possible, parental rights may be terminated, and the children may become eligible for adoption or prepared for adult living.
Are Foster Care And Adoption The Same Thing?
No. In foster care, Social Services has legal custody of the child and assumes the ultimate responsibility for the child. With adoption, custody and responsibility for the child belong to the adoptive family.
Can I be Single Or Work And Still Be A Foster Parent?
Yes. Single parents and working people may be certified, but each situation must be considered individually. These circumstances may affect the type and ages of children who can be placed with you.
Is Financial Assistance Available?
A foster family will receive a maintenance payment on behalf of the child to help with expenses while a child is in their home. Children are also covered under Medicaid for dental, medical and mental health coverage.
Do Foster Parents Have A Choice About Children Who Are Placed With Them?
Your preferences, strengths and needs are considered before a child is placed in your home. You are free to ask questions about the child and about their background. You are not required to accept a child into your home. If you feel you cannot accept a child, let the placement coordinator know.
What Is The Foster Parent’s Responsibility To The Child?
The agency entrusts the child’s day–to-day physical and emotional care to the foster parent. You must abide by the agency’s training and discipline policies, which include the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Policy on non-physical discipline of children in foster care.
How Do I Become A Foster Parent?
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 checks. Finally, a committee reviews everything and approves foster families. Once approved you can foster a child, and if the option arises, adopt a child.
How Do I Begin?
For more information or to start the process to become a foster parent, contact Ryan Jones, (757) 385-3272 or Rayshawn Satchell, (757) 385-3287