How to Become a Foster Parent in Virginia

Description

Foster care in Virginia provides safe, temporary, family-based care for children and youth who cannot remain with their parents because of abuse, neglect, family crisis, or other serious safety concerns. Foster parents provide stability, supervision, nurturing, transportation, educational advocacy, healthcare coordination, emotional support, normal childhood experiences, and connections to parents, siblings, relatives, culture, school, and community while the child's family works toward reunification or another court-approved permanency outcome.

Agency

The Virginia Department of Social Services oversees the Commonwealth's foster-care system. Foster homes are commonly recruited, assessed, approved, supervised, and supported by local departments of social services. Licensed child-placing agencies may also approve resource, foster, adoptive, treatment foster-care, or specialized foster homes under Virginia licensing standards.

Who Can Apply

Responsible single adults and couples who can provide a safe, stable, nurturing home may apply to foster in Virginia. Applicants must meet age, health, financial, background-check, training, home-assessment, and household-safety requirements. Virginia does not exclude applicants solely because they are single, married, divorced, widowed, employed outside the home, renters, or inexperienced parents.

Average Time To License

Many Virginia applicants may complete foster-home approval within approximately three to six months. The actual timeline depends upon the local department or agency, training schedules, applicant responsiveness, background-check processing, references, health documentation, interviews, home-study scheduling, required safety corrections, and placement preferences.

Website

Visit the official agency website

Minimum Age

Virginia regulations require local-department-approved foster or adoptive providers to be at least 18 years old. Licensed child-placing agencies also document that applicants are at least 18 before approving a home. Individual agencies evaluate whether applicants possess the maturity, judgment, health, stability, and caregiving ability necessary to safely parent children in foster care.

Residency

Applicants must live in a residence that can be assessed and approved under Virginia foster-home standards. Families living in another state who are being considered for a Virginia child generally complete approval through the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children and the child-welfare authority in their state of residence.

Marital Status

Qualified single adults, married couples, divorced adults, widowed adults, and unmarried partners may be considered as foster parents in Virginia. When two adults intend to parent together or share significant caregiving responsibility, both generally participate in the application, training, interviews, background checks, mutual family assessment, and approval process.

Income Requirements

Applicants must demonstrate sufficient and dependable household income to meet their existing financial obligations without relying upon foster-care maintenance payments. The approving agency may review employment, income, debts, housing costs, insurance, budgeting, financial responsibilities, and the family's ability to meet a child's immediate needs before reimbursement begins.

Home Ownership

Applicants may rent or own their home. The residence must be safe, clean, adequately heated and ventilated, structurally sound, in good repair, and large enough for the household and the number of children approved for placement. Renters may need to verify that their lease, landlord, insurance, and property rules allow foster children and any required safety changes.

Bedroom Requirements

Each foster child must have an appropriate individual bed or crib, clean mattress and bedding, adequate storage, and a sleeping area that provides reasonable privacy, ventilation, lighting, and safety. Children over age two generally may not share a bedroom with an adult unless the local department documents an approved exception based on the child's needs. Children of any age may not share a bed with an adult, and children of opposite sexes over age three generally may not share a bedroom.

Transportation

Foster parents must have dependable transportation or a reliable transportation plan for family visitation, school, medical and dental appointments, therapy, court hearings, meetings, activities, placement transitions, and emergencies. Drivers must be properly licensed, vehicles must be registered and insured, and applicants may be required to provide driving records. Children must use legally required seat belts, car seats, booster seats, or specialized restraints.

Health Requirements

Applicants and other household caregivers must be physically and emotionally capable of safely caring for children. Virginia requires applicants and resident caretakers to provide physical-examination documentation completed within the required period before approval. Household members who have contact with children must also complete tuberculosis assessment, screening, or testing consistent with Virginia Department of Health requirements. A disability or well-managed health condition does not automatically prevent approval.

Pet Policy

Virginia permits household pets and other animals when they are safely maintained, appropriately supervised, sanitary, and do not create a hazard to children. The approving agency may assess animal temperament, aggression or bite history, vaccinations, veterinary care, containment, cleanliness, and the family's plan for supervising children's interactions with animals.

Firearm Policy

Applicants must disclose firearms, ammunition, and other weapons kept in the home. Firearms and weapons must comply with federal, state, and local law and must be stored with activated safety mechanisms in a locked closet, cabinet, or other secure location inaccessible to children. Ammunition must also be securely stored, and the approving agency may require additional safeguards based on a child's age, behavior, trauma history, or safety plan.

Contact Agency

Begin by contacting your local Virginia Department of Social Services or a licensed child-placing agency participating in Foster Virginia. A foster-care recruiter or family services worker will explain Virginia's need for foster families, eligibility requirements, training, the mutual family assessment, reimbursement, support services, foster-to-adopt opportunities, kinship care, and the expectation that foster parents actively support reunification whenever it is safe and appropriate.

Attend Orientation

Prospective foster parents attend an orientation session or informational meeting before beginning the approval process. Orientation explains the purpose of foster care, the experiences of children entering care, trauma-informed parenting, reunification, shared parenting, confidentiality, discipline policies, visitation, educational advocacy, licensing requirements, and the responsibilities of working with birth families, local departments of social services, courts, schools, healthcare providers, and other members of the child's support team.

Choose Agency

Applicants may become approved through their local department of social services or through a licensed child-placing agency. Families interested in traditional foster care, treatment foster care, therapeutic placements, medically fragile children, or foster-to-adopt opportunities should discuss available programs with the agency they choose before beginning the approval process.

Documents Needed

• Completed foster-home application
• Government-issued identification
• Social Security numbers or identifying information for background screening
• Current and previous residential history
• Information for every household member
• Marriage certificate when applicable
• Divorce documentation when applicable
• Background-check authorization forms
• Fingerprint authorization forms
• Central Registry search authorization
• Out-of-state child abuse registry checks when applicable
• Personal references
• Employment verification
• Proof of household income
• Financial information
• Physical examination forms
• Tuberculosis screening documentation when required
• Driver's licenses
• Driving records when requested
• Vehicle registration
• Proof of automobile insurance
• Homeowners or renters insurance information
• Emergency contact information
• Emergency evacuation plan
• Bedroom and sleeping arrangement information
• Pet vaccination records when applicable
• Firearm storage information when applicable
• Water safety documentation when applicable
• CPR and First Aid certification when required
• Preservice training documentation
• Additional agency forms and releases

Required

Yes

Description

Virginia requires prospective foster parents to complete orientation before or during the approval process. Orientation introduces applicants to Virginia's foster-care system, explains the needs of children entering care, discusses trauma, attachment, child development, behavior management, reunification, shared parenting, confidentiality, normalcy, court involvement, educational advocacy, medical responsibilities, permanency planning, and the important role foster parents play in helping children maintain healthy family connections whenever possible.

How To Register

Families register through their local department of social services or licensed child-placing agency. Agency staff explain available orientation dates, training schedules, licensing requirements, placement needs within the local community, and the next steps toward completing the mutual family assessment.

Duration

Orientation is typically completed during one or more informational sessions before applicants continue with preservice training, background screening, interviews, home visits, and the remainder of the approval process.

Application Process

Following orientation, applicants complete the Virginia foster-home application and begin the mutual family assessment. The process generally includes preservice training, fingerprint-based criminal background checks, Central Registry searches, references, medical documentation, financial review, interviews, home visits, safety inspections, and evaluation of the family's strengths, support systems, parenting philosophy, placement preferences, and ability to safely meet the needs of children entering foster care.

Required Documents

• Completed foster-home application
• Government-issued identification
• Household member information
• Residential history
• Fingerprint authorization forms
• Criminal-history disclosures
• Central Registry authorization
• Out-of-state registry authorizations when applicable
• Personal references
• Employment information
• Income verification
• Financial information
• Physical examination documentation
• Tuberculosis screening documentation when required
• Marriage documentation when applicable
• Divorce documentation when applicable
• Driver's licenses
• Driving record when requested
• Vehicle registration
• Proof of automobile insurance
• Homeowners or renters insurance
• Emergency plans
• Bedroom information
• Pet vaccination records when applicable
• Firearm storage disclosures when applicable
• Preservice training documentation
• Additional local department or agency forms

References Required

Virginia requires applicants to provide references who can describe their character, maturity, parenting abilities, relationships, judgment, emotional stability, financial responsibility, reliability, and ability to safely care for children. Previous foster-care providers, employers, childcare providers, or adoption agencies may also be contacted when applicable.

Interview Process

Applicants participate in multiple interviews as part of Virginia's mutual family assessment. Discussions typically cover family history, childhood experiences, parenting philosophy, discipline practices, marriage and relationships, communication, finances, employment, physical and mental health, trauma awareness, support systems, cultural humility, placement preferences, substance-use history, criminal history, confidentiality, reunification, and the family's ability to work collaboratively with birth families, local departments, schools, courts, therapists, and medical providers.

Required

Yes

Curriculum

Virginia requires prospective foster parents to complete agency-approved preservice training before approval. Training prepares caregivers to understand the child welfare system, trauma, attachment, child development, grief and loss, positive discipline, abuse and neglect, cultural humility, shared parenting, reunification, educational advocacy, medical and behavioral health needs, confidentiality, mandatory reporting, normalcy, permanency planning, caregiver wellness, and collaboration with local departments of social services, birth families, courts, schools, healthcare providers, and community partners.

Required Hours

Virginia requires completion of all preservice training required by the approving local department of social services or licensed child-placing agency before foster-home approval. The exact number of hours varies by agency and program. Additional instruction may include CPR, First Aid, medication administration, trauma-informed care, behavior management, and specialized courses depending upon the type of foster care provided.

Online Available

Yes. Many Virginia agencies allow portions of preservice education to be completed through online or hybrid learning. Certain licensing activities—including interviews, home visits, safety inspections, and portions of the mutual family assessment—must still be completed in person.

Certification

Applicants receive documentation after successfully completing their required preservice education. Foster parents must also complete ongoing annual in-service training to maintain approval, and additional specialized education may be required for treatment foster care, medically fragile children, infants with prenatal substance exposure, or youth with significant behavioral or mental health needs.

Required

Yes

Interviews

Virginia requires completion of a Mutual Family Assessment rather than a traditional home study. Licensing specialists conduct multiple interviews with applicants and household members to evaluate parenting philosophy, motivation for fostering, family relationships, communication, childhood experiences, discipline practices, emotional stability, physical and mental health, finances, cultural awareness, trauma-informed parenting skills, support systems, placement preferences, and the family's ability to meet children's individual needs while supporting reunification.

Home Visits

Licensing staff conduct one or more home visits to evaluate compliance with Virginia foster-home standards. The residence is assessed for cleanliness, structural safety, emergency preparedness, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, bedroom arrangements, sanitation, medication security, firearm storage, hazardous materials, utilities, pets, water hazards, and the home's overall suitability for children. Additional visits may occur if corrections are necessary before approval.

Topics Covered

• Motivation for fostering
• Understanding Virginia's child welfare system
• Reunification and permanency
• Family history
• Childhood experiences
• Marriage and family relationships
• Communication skills
• Conflict resolution
• Parenting philosophy
• Positive discipline
• Trauma-informed parenting
• Attachment
• Grief and loss
• Child development
• Behavior management
• Educational advocacy
• Medical care coordination
• Mental health awareness
• Supporting birth-family relationships
• Cultural identity and humility
• Financial stability
• Employment responsibilities
• Transportation planning
• Emergency preparedness
• Support systems
• Physical health
• Mental health
• Substance-use history
• Criminal-history review
• Central Registry history
• Confidentiality
• Mandatory reporting
• Normalcy and prudent parenting
• Placement preferences
• Household strengths and challenges
• Collaboration with local departments and community partners

Timeline

The Mutual Family Assessment generally occurs throughout the licensing process and varies according to applicant responsiveness, training completion, background-check processing, references, medical documentation, scheduling, required home improvements, and agency workload. Many applicants complete the overall approval process within approximately three to six months.

Bedroom Rules

Each foster child must have an individual bed or crib with an appropriate mattress and clean bedding. Bedrooms must provide adequate space, lighting, ventilation, privacy, and storage. Sleeping arrangements must consider children's ages, genders, developmental needs, trauma histories, sibling relationships, and individual safety plans. Children generally may not share sleeping space with unrelated adults except under approved infant-care circumstances.

Smoke Detectors

Working smoke detectors must be properly installed and maintained throughout the residence in accordance with Virginia law and foster-home licensing requirements. Licensing specialists verify that alarms are functional during home inspections.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Homes containing fuel-burning appliances, fireplaces, attached garages, or other sources of carbon monoxide must maintain working carbon monoxide detectors in accordance with Virginia law and licensing standards.

Fire Extinguisher

Homes should maintain readily accessible fire extinguishers and establish emergency evacuation procedures. Household members should know emergency escape routes and evacuation plans.

Medications

Prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, controlled substances, sharps, and medical supplies must be safely stored and inaccessible to children. Controlled medications may require locked storage depending upon the child's age and needs.

Cleaning Supplies

Cleaning chemicals, detergents, pesticides, poisonous substances, fuels, alcohol, sharp tools, and other hazardous materials must be safely stored to prevent children's access.

Firearms

Firearms must be unloaded or otherwise safely secured in locked storage inaccessible to children. Ammunition must also be securely stored separately or in another approved locked location. The approving agency may require additional safeguards based upon children's individual needs.

Pools

Swimming pools, hot tubs, ponds, streams, lakes, and other water hazards must be appropriately protected through fencing, locked gates, covers, alarms, supervision plans, rescue equipment, swimming rules, or other safeguards approved during licensing.

Pets

Household pets are permitted when healthy, appropriately vaccinated, well supervised, and not dangerous to children. Licensing staff may review veterinary records, sanitation, supervision, containment, and animal temperament during the assessment.

Vehicle Requirements

Vehicles used to transport foster children must be legally registered, properly insured, safely maintained, and operated by licensed drivers. Foster children must always use age- and size-appropriate seat belts, car seats, booster seats, or specialized restraints as required by Virginia law.

Fingerprinting

Virginia requires fingerprint-based state and federal criminal-history background checks for foster-parent applicants and adult household members in accordance with state licensing requirements.

Child Abuse Registry

Applicants and applicable household members must successfully complete Virginia Child Protective Services Central Registry searches. Applicants who previously lived in other states may also be required to complete child-abuse and neglect registry checks in those states.

Criminal History

The approving agency reviews criminal-history records, Central Registry findings, references, interviews, prior licensing history, and other available information when determining an applicant's suitability. Applicants must disclose arrests, convictions, deferred adjudications, probation, parole, and other legal matters.

Disqualifying Offenses

Certain criminal convictions and founded child-abuse findings permanently disqualify applicants under Virginia and federal law. Crimes involving child abuse, sexual offenses, homicide, domestic violence, serious assault, human trafficking, certain drug offenses, violent crimes, and other offenses identified in Virginia law generally prevent foster-home approval. Other offenses may receive individualized review when permitted by law.

Additional Checks

Additional screening may include driving-record reviews, sex offender registry searches, employment verification, prior foster-home licensing history, court-record reviews, reference verification, household composition reviews, and other evaluations necessary to ensure child safety.

Steps

• Contact a local department of social services or licensed child-placing agency.
• Attend orientation.
• Submit the foster-home application.
• Complete preservice training.
• Complete CPR and First Aid training when required.
• Provide references.
• Submit medical documentation.
• Complete fingerprinting and background checks.
• Participate in the Mutual Family Assessment interviews.
• Complete home visits and safety inspection.
• Correct any identified deficiencies.
• Receive foster-home approval.
• Accept foster-child placements.
• Complete annual continuing education.
• Maintain ongoing compliance with licensing standards.

Average Timeline

Many Virginia applicants complete approval within approximately three to six months. Actual timelines depend upon agency workload, training schedules, background-check processing, references, home corrections, applicant responsiveness, and scheduling.

Renewal Requirements

Approved foster homes must maintain compliance with Virginia licensing requirements through periodic renewal, updated documentation, annual training, home visits, continued background-screening compliance, and correction of any identified safety concerns.

Ongoing Training

Virginia foster parents complete annual continuing education after approval. Additional specialized training may be required depending upon the needs of children placed in the home or the type of foster-care services provided.

How Placements Work

After approval, Virginia foster families receive placement requests based on the child's individual needs, the family's approved capacity, experience, training, location, bedroom availability, household composition, and ability to safely meet the child's physical, emotional, educational, behavioral, developmental, cultural, and medical needs. Local departments strive to place children in the least restrictive family setting while preserving sibling relationships, supporting reunification, and maintaining important family and community connections whenever safely possible.

Can Decline Placements

Yes. Virginia foster parents may decline any placement that is not appropriate for their family's abilities, household circumstances, approved capacity, or placement preferences. Caregivers are encouraged to ask questions regarding the child's medical history, behaviors, medications, visitation schedule, educational needs, trauma history, sibling relationships, permanency goal, and supervision requirements before accepting placement.

Emergency Placements

Virginia maintains foster homes that accept emergency placements during evenings, weekends, holidays, and other urgent situations. Emergency placements may involve infants, sibling groups, teenagers, or children entering care unexpectedly. Complete information may not always be available at the time of placement, with additional details provided as they become known.

Sibling Groups

Virginia gives priority to keeping siblings together whenever it is safe and appropriate. When siblings cannot remain in the same foster home, local departments work to preserve sibling relationships through visitation, phone calls, video communication, shared activities, letters, photographs, and other ongoing contact whenever appropriate.

Age Preferences

During licensing, families identify the ages, genders, number of children, sibling groups, developmental disabilities, behavioral challenges, medical conditions, cultural considerations, and placement types they are prepared to accept. Placement workers consider these preferences when matching children with foster families.

Monthly Board Rate

Virginia provides monthly foster-care maintenance payments to help offset the ordinary costs of caring for foster children. Standard maintenance payments vary according to the child's age. Additional enhanced maintenance payments may be available through the Virginia Enhanced Maintenance Assessment Tool when children require higher levels of supervision, care, or specialized services. Foster-care maintenance payments support the child's needs and are not considered wages.

Clothing Allowance

Virginia provides an annual supplemental clothing allowance to help purchase clothing for children in foster care. Additional clothing assistance may also be available when children enter care with insufficient clothing or have extraordinary seasonal, educational, employment, medical, or placement-related clothing needs.

Daycare Assistance

Childcare assistance may be available when necessary to support the child's placement and the foster parent's employment, education, training, court obligations, medical appointments, or other approved activities. Eligibility depends upon the child's circumstances, available funding, provider approval, and authorization by the local department.

Medical Coverage

Children placed in Virginia foster care generally receive Medicaid coverage that includes physician services, hospitalization, behavioral health treatment, prescriptions, dental care, vision services, therapy, developmental services, specialty care, and other medically necessary treatment. Foster parents coordinate appointments while following agency policies regarding medical consent and documentation.

Mileage Reimbursement

Mileage reimbursement or transportation assistance may be available for approved travel related to visitation, medical appointments, therapy, court hearings, educational activities, placement transitions, licensing responsibilities, and other case-related requirements. Foster parents should follow local department reimbursement procedures and documentation requirements.

Additional Benefits

Additional support may include respite care, behavioral consultation, therapeutic services, educational advocacy, childcare assistance, crisis intervention, mentoring, placement stabilization services, specialized medical equipment, independent living support for older youth, and referrals to community resources depending upon the child's needs.

Respite Care

Virginia provides respite care to eligible foster families to help prevent caregiver burnout and maintain placement stability. Respite providers must satisfy applicable approval requirements. Availability varies by locality and agency resources.

Support Groups

Local departments, licensed child-placing agencies, Foster Virginia, and community organizations offer foster-parent support groups, conferences, educational workshops, peer networking opportunities, and online communities covering topics such as trauma-informed parenting, attachment, reunification, behavior management, educational advocacy, permanency planning, and caregiver wellness.

Mentoring

Many new foster parents are connected with experienced foster families who provide encouragement, practical guidance, and assistance navigating placements, licensing, school issues, court involvement, visitation, and communication with birth families.

Counseling

Children in foster care may receive trauma-focused therapy, behavioral health treatment, psychiatric care, developmental services, substance-use treatment, family therapy, crisis intervention, and other clinically appropriate services. Foster parents may also receive caregiver coaching and behavioral consultation.

Crisis Support

Foster parents should contact emergency services whenever necessary and notify their assigned local department as soon as possible following emergencies involving foster children. Serious injuries, abuse allegations, missing children, hospitalizations, suicide threats, arrests, medication errors, placement disruptions, and other significant incidents must be reported according to agency policy.

Available

Yes

Process

Virginia allows qualified families to pursue both foster care and adoption. Children typically enter foster care with reunification as the initial permanency goal. When reunification cannot safely occur and parental rights are terminated, foster parents may be considered as adoptive resources when adoption is determined to be in the child's best interests.

Legal Risk

Every foster placement involves legal risk because reunification remains the preferred permanency goal whenever it can safely be achieved. Depending upon court decisions, children may reunify with parents, be placed with relatives, enter guardianship, transfer to another foster home, or become legally available for adoption.

Adoption Subsidy

Eligible children adopted from Virginia foster care may qualify for adoption assistance that includes monthly financial support, Medicaid coverage, reimbursement of qualifying nonrecurring adoption expenses, and post-adoption support services.

Available

Yes

Licensing Differences

Virginia gives priority to placing children with relatives and fictive kin whenever safely possible. Relative caregivers may sometimes receive temporary approval while completing licensing requirements. Those seeking ongoing foster-care reimbursement generally complete the same licensing standards, background checks, mutual family assessment, training, and safety requirements as other foster families.

Financial Support

Eligible kinship caregivers may qualify for foster-care maintenance payments, Medicaid for the child, childcare assistance, kinship support services, guardianship assistance, adoption assistance, respite care, legal referrals, and community resources depending upon the child's legal status and caregiver eligibility.

How old do I have to be to become a foster parent in Virginia?

Applicants must generally be at least 18 years old.

Can a single person become a foster parent?

Yes. Qualified single adults may become approved foster parents.

Do I have to own my home?

No. Applicants may rent or own their residence if it meets Virginia licensing standards.

Can I work full-time and foster?

Yes. Many Virginia foster parents work outside the home.

Do I need parenting experience?

No. Previous parenting experience is not required.

Can I have pets?

Yes. Pets are permitted when safely supervised, healthy, vaccinated, and not dangerous to children.

Can I own firearms?

Yes. Firearms and ammunition must be securely stored in accordance with Virginia licensing requirements.

Can I decline a placement?

Yes. Foster parents may decline placements that are not appropriate for their family.

How long does approval usually take?

Many applicants complete approval within approximately three to six months.

Can relatives become foster parents?

Yes. Virginia gives priority to placement with relatives and fictive kin whenever safely possible.

Does fostering guarantee adoption?

No. Foster care is intended primarily to achieve safe reunification whenever possible.

Do foster children receive health insurance?

Yes. Most children in Virginia foster care receive Medicaid coverage.

Do foster parents receive financial assistance?

Yes. Licensed foster parents receive maintenance payments to help meet the child's daily needs.

Is respite care available?

Yes. Approved respite services are available depending upon local resources.

Must I support reunification?

Yes. Foster parents are expected to actively support reunification whenever it is safe and appropriate.

State Agency

Virginia Department of Social Services

Phone

1-800-DO-ADOPT (1-800-362-3678)

Address

801 East Main Street, Richmond, VA 23219-2901

Website

Visit the official agency website

Recruitment Agency

Foster Virginia

Recruitment Phone

1-800-DO-ADOPT (1-800-362-3678)

Recruitment Website

https://fosterva.dss.virginia.gov/