Becoming a foster parent
At VDSS, we believe that when children can't be with their parents, the next best place is with someone they already know and trust. We prioritize kinship care, trauma-informed support and keeping kids connected to family, culture and community while working toward reunification.
Foster parents must be supportive of children's ongoing relationships with their families. Strong partnerships between the child’s parents, foster parents, local departments, courts and community partners are critical to achieving reunification and stability.
How Fostering Works for Non-Relative Resource Parents
- Learn — Explore what fostering and adoption look like in Virginia.
- Connect — Reach out to your local departments of social services or attend an info session.
- Apply — Create an account on the Faster Families Highway for a 6-step readiness process.
- Get Trained — Complete training, background checks and a mutual family assessment.
- Get Approved — Be matched with children who need your support.
- Welcome a Child — Join a community of families ready to help you succeed.
Along with training, local departments of social services (LDSS) provide financial support and other resources to assist children and families throughout the process.
It's easy to pursue your interest in foster parenting through Virginia's Faster Families Highway. Get started today by creating an account on the Virginia Department of Social Services' Faster Families Highway.
