Foster care is a system in which a child who cannot live with their biological parents—for various reasons such as neglect, abuse, or the parent(s) not being able to care for the child— is placed with a certified caregiver, called a foster parent, who provides temporary care and support.

No, becoming a foster parent is free and the costs that can be associated with taking care of a child in foster care are sometimes reimbursable, or there is a stipend to help cover the costs.

The children in foster care represent all cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. At Shineforth, they are frequently part of a sibling group or teens.

Yes, foster parents often have the option to specify preferences for the age, gender, or needs of the children they want to care for. While the process tries to honor these preferences, it may not be possible depending on the availability of children in need of placement.

Generally, one child or a sibling group will be placed in your home, but the maximum number of children placed in your Virginia home is six. This is to:

• Allow the child of a parenting youth in foster care to remain with the parenting youth.
• Allow siblings to remain together.
• Allow a child with an established meaningful relationship with the family to remain with the family.
• Allow a family with special training or skills to provide care to a child who has a severe disability.

A child’s time in care varies from under a year, to one to three years, or longer.

Children in foster care are covered by Medicaid, which pays for all necessary care and treatment. Childcare, services, and funding for other activities for children may be available. Joining the National Foster Parent Association (NFPA) is a helpful way to get advice and assistance from experienced foster parents.

Generally, to become a foster parent, you need to:

• Be at least 21 years old.
• Pass a background check, including criminal and child abuse history checks.
• Complete a home study (which includes interviews, home visits, and assessments).
• Attend foster parent training.
• Provide references from friends, family, and/or employers. Each state or region may have specific requirements, so it’s best to check with the local foster care agency.

Yes, more than 100,000 single persons across the nation are foster parents.

You must have a steady income that provides for your household needs and financial obligations.

It depends on the type of conviction. There are barrier crimes that are automatic disqualifiers.

Yes, foster parents can decline placements if they feel they cannot meet the child’s needs or if they’re unable to care for the child due to other factors.

You must be at least 21 years of age to become a foster parent, but there are no upper age limits in Virginia.

Yes. Military families stationed overseas and within the U.S. are eligible to adopt children from the US foster care system.

The time it takes to become a foster parent varies, but the certification process generally takes three months.

Yes, in Virginia, 70% of foster youth that are adopted are actually adopted by their foster parents.

When a child is unable to return home, a plan is developed to provide permanency for them.

Most children in foster care are eligible for the adoption tax credit which allows adoptive parents of children in foster care to claim adoption.

As a foster parent, you may have to arrange and attend meetings with a child’s birth family and participate in activities that support reunification.

When the child returns home, be open to maintaining contact and prepare for your next placement.

Several types of support and resources are available, such as:

• 24-hour on-call support
• Monthly support groups
• Educational training
• Respite care

Foster parents receive a tax-free monthly maintenance payment to cover the basic costs of caring for children. The payment amount varies based on the child’s age. If a child’s needs require additional support, an assessment tool will be utilized to determine the rate of additional payment.