FAQs

• 1. What is foster care?
  Foster care is a state mandated service provided through federal, state and local funds to deliver a full range of services to a child who is abused or neglected as defined by the Code of Virginia (law). These services include casework, treatment and community services. Usually, initial services are aimed at preserving and strengthening families to keep children in their own homes. When a child must be removed from a home and placed in a foster home, the initial goal becomes the provision of services to return the child home.
• 2. How does a child enter foster care?
  When reasonable efforts to keep a child in his/her own home are unsuccessful, the juvenile court may award custody of the child to a local department of social services. In cases where an emergency arises when the court is not in session a child protective services social worker may assume custody of a child and place him/her in a foster home. Either way, the social worker must prove to the juvenile court that "no less drastic alternative than removal of the child from his or her home exists" to protect the child. It is therefore typically in the most serious cases of abuse or neglect that a child is placed in foster care.
• 3. How long does a child remain in foster care?
  The answer to this question will in great part depend upon the specifics of each case. As mentioned, foster care is intended to be temporary with the highest priority given to the goal of returning a child home as soon as possible. Within 60 days of a child entering foster care, the foster care social worker develops a written service plan, which is submitted to the court, identifying problems that need to be addressed by the family and target dates for completion. Within 75 days of the child entering foster care, the juvenile court will hold a review called the dispositional hearing to review the service plan. A foster care review hearing to review progress made on the initial foster care service plan is then held within 6 months of the 75-day dispositional hearing. Finally, the permanency planning hearing, where action is to be taken by the court to achieve permanency for the child, is held within 5 months of the foster care review hearing and within 14 months of the child's placement in foster care. In addition to these court hearings, policy requires that foster care cases be reviewed within social services on a regular basis. As you can see, there are mechanisms in place to assure that a child remains in foster care for the shortest time possible.
• 4. What is the foster care service plan?
  The foster care service plan is a document that describes the needs of the child and family and identifies the services that will be provided to meet these needs. Any appropriate service must be made available to a foster child when that service is documented as needed. Rehabilitative, restorative and supportive services shall also be provided to parents and foster parents on behalf of the child. Services to be provided may include, but are not limited to, day care, respite care, transportation for the parents, educational, social or recreational activities, counseling and medical services.
• 5. Who monitors the progress the foster child's family is making?
  Federal law enacted in 1997, the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA), provides for closer monitoring of foster care cases by the juvenile court. These laws are intended to better ensure that children do not remain in foster care indefinitely without a permanent plan. These laws demand greater accountability by the parents and social services via more frequent court reviews.
• 6. Why would you return a child to an abusive/neglectful parent?
  Federal and state laws and social services policies all recognize that people can make terrible mistakes but are capable of and should be given the opportunity to make changes in their lives. These same laws and policies also recognize that a parent's right to parent his or her own children is a fundamental right and should only be taken away as a last resort. As mentioned, new laws enacted in 1997 create a better way of making sure that parents found to be abusive or neglectful make timely progress in bettering their situation so that a child can be assured a permanent plan in a reasonable amount of time.
• 7. What is a foster parent?
  A foster parent, is a "provider at least 21 years of age who provides substitute family care, room and board, and services for children committed or entrusted to local boards of social services or private child-placing agencies." Foster parents must meet specific standards and regulations set forth by the Virginia Department of Social Services.
• 8. I would like to become a foster parent, but I'm not married and have no plans to be married. Will this affect my application?
  Foster families come in an assortment of "packages." Foster parents may be single men or women, or married people and of all races and nationalities. We more interested in a person's or family's motivation for wanting to foster parent and ability to provide a safe, nurturing home where healthy relationships are modeled than in the precise make-up of the family.
• 9. What do you mean by "motivation" for wanting to foster parent?
  Typically, people who wish to foster parent are individuals with big hearts who genuinely love children. Unfortunately, this is not enough to be a successful foster parent. Children who enter foster care often have been seriously abused and/or neglected. As a result, foster children need a person or family who is able and willing to deal with the behaviors they often develop in response to this abuse/neglect. If a person has unresolved losses in their own life, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to parent in an objective way. Sometimes the foster child will trigger painful memories in the adult with unresolved issues. This does not mean you will be unable to serve children in some way, but it may mean that providing 24-hour parenting will not be helpful for you or the child at this time. Your local department of social services foster parent trainer/recruiter can speak with you further about this.
• 10. I want to be a foster parent but I don't have children of my own. Will this affect my application?
  t is not required that foster parents have children of their own. However, it is helpful if foster parents have parented or cared for children in some capacity. Such experience will give them experience in recognizing and providing for a child's physical, emotional and social needs. A foster parent is considered a "professional parent" who provides 24-hour care for children whose needs are often varied and extensive. If you wish to be a foster parent but have not had much hands-on experience with children, you might find it helpful to first take a parenting class or volunteer to work with children in a church, school or some other organization.
• 11. How are foster parents prepared for the job of parenting abused or neglected children?
  Foster parents are provided special training to prepare them for the job of caring for foster children. The local department of social services develops and provides the training it feels is necessary for this preparation. Each social service agency's training will cover similar information but in an individual way. The dates, times and lengths of training will depend on the particular agency.
• 12. What type of information is typically covered in pre-service training?
  Training topics may include the following: * Orientation to the social services agency * Permanency planning/role of the court * Separation and loss * Child abuse and neglect * Sexual abuse * Working with birth parents * Attachment and attachment disorder * Discipline
• 13. What are some of the other requirements to become a foster parent?
  * Potential foster parents (and anyone living in the home who is 18 years or older) must agree to criminal record and CPS checks. * Potential foster parents (and anyone living in the home who is 18 years or older) must provide a medical statement stating that they are free from communicable Tuberculosis. * Potential foster parents will provide two references that have direct knowledge of their parenting or childcare experience. * Potential foster parents will meet with a social worker in the foster parents' home.
• 14. Is a foster parent allowed to spank a foster child?
  Foster parents must absolutely never use corporal punishment, which includes spanking. In fact, foster parents agree in writing to never use corporal punishment. Foster parent pre-service training includes discussion of why abused children should not be corporally punished and also discuss alternative forms of discipline or behavior management. Additionally, ongoing support of foster parents includes regular in-service training and individual consultation with the social worker regarding discipline questions or concerns.
• 15. We would really like to adopt a child. Can we find a child to adopt through a foster care placement?
  Adoptions often occur as a result of the foster care process. When the foster child's parents are not making progress in changing the circumstances that brought the child into foster care, a judge may terminate parental rights. The foster family may then be eligible to be considered as an adoption applicant for the foster child. Virginia law does require that all efforts be exhausted by social services in reuniting foster children with their families. This means that initially foster parents, as part of the treatment "team," must support reunification efforts. This process may take 12 - 14 months. If adoption is your goal, you might wish to talk to an adoption social worker at your local social service agency.
• 16. Please sum up the ideal qualities that contribute to successful foster parenting.
  Foster parents are individuals who open their homes and their hearts, on a 24 hours-per-day, 7 days-per-week basis, to children who have been hurt and mistreated. They have made the decision to do so in a thoughtful, careful manner, considering their own history, the needs of their family and the tremendous commitment and responsibility involved. Foster parents believe in the inherent right of children and parents to be together and will support and encourage this effort. However, if this effort fails, foster parents will be equally as committed to supporting alternative permanency planning. Foster parents will serve as gentle, discrete information-gatherers - closely watching their new foster child, discovering the child's moods, behaviors, coping methods, fears, anxieties, likes, dislikes. Foster parents will be a calm presence, solid and steady, and always reliable. They will have a good sense of humor and an ability to find joy in the world. They will be firm, but kind. Foster parents will help their foster children navigate through scary situations, such as; going to the doctor, coming to the agency for a family visit, going to see the therapist. They will attach, but also be able to let go. Foster parents will be aware that it is important to constantly seek ways to do their job better. They will seek out and attend training as much as possible. They will not wait until it is too late to ask for help or respite. As you can see, foster parents are asked to do a tough job. But knowing that you have made a difference in a child's life makes the effort worthwhile.
• 17. What types of foster homes are most needed?
  Social service agencies need individuals and families willing to foster children of all ages and who may exhibit a variety of problems. Foster children vary in age from newborn babies to teens. Once in foster care, a child may remain until he/she is 18 years of age, and in special circumstances, until age 21. People with a desire to parent teens or sibling groups are always greatly needed. Very often, teens are the "forgotten children" - but families who have committed to fostering teens have found it to be an extremely rewarding experience. It is truly satisfying to make a difference in the life of an adolescent who is about to enter young adulthood and who may have never received guidance and caring. Likewise, opening your home to sibling groups so that further loss may be avoided is a true gift. Children who enter foster care may have a variety of special needs. They may have medical or psychological problems such as HIV/AIDS, fetal alcohol syndrome, intellectual disability, attention deficit disorder (ADD/ADHD), or essentially any problem that may befall children. Social service agencies typically attempt to match a foster child with a foster home based on the strengths of both and the needs of the child.