What to Expect When You Foster: Answers to the Questions Families Ask Us Most
Thinking about becoming a foster parent brings up a lot of questions. Honestly, the families who ask the most detailed ones are usually the ones who end up being the strongest fit. Here are answers to the questions we hear most often from prospective foster families.
How long does a placement typically last?
Placement length varies widely depending on the individual child’s case plan and court timeline, but in Virginia, a case lasts on average between 18–24 months.
What percentage of children reunify with their families?
About 1 in 3 children who leave Virginia’s foster care system each year return home to their families. Reunification is always the primary goal, and foster parents play a critical role in supporting that process while a child is in their care.
If reunification isn’t possible, are foster parents considered for adoption?
Yes. When reunification is no longer the goal, current foster parents are one of the first placements considered for adoption. Since continuity and existing attachment are prioritized by the court and social workers. We continue to support the families through every step of that process.
Can families specify an age range they’re comfortable fostering?
Yes. During the home study and licensing process, families identify the ages, needs, and circumstances they feel equipped to care for, and Impact matches placements accordingly.
How common are infant placements, and what typically leads to them?
Children come into care only after local DSS has exhausted every option to help them stay safely at home or with relatives. Infant placements, which we define as children under one year of age, typically happen when parents are unable to provide a safe environment or meet an infant’s needs, putting the child at risk of harm. This can stem from circumstances like parental substance use, medical fragility (which may limit placement with a traditional daycare facility until it’s managed), or a parent’s inability to safely care for the child. Some infants also have older siblings, and when that’s the case, we work to place them together.
What childcare support exists for two-working-parent households?
Yes, this is very manageable. In most Virginia localities, daycare costs are funded for foster children when both parents in the home work full-time, as long as the child is placed with a licensed daycare provider.
What financial, medical, and respite support is provided?
Foster parents receive a monthly stipend to cover the child’s day-to-day needs. The child’s medical care is covered through Medicaid, and respite care is available to give foster parents planned breaks so they can recharge.
What contact with biological family is expected?
Contact with biological family looks different for every child and depends on what the court and case plan allow. For some children, this means regular in-person visits. For others, it may be phone calls, letters, or no direct contact at all if it isn’t safe or appropriate. Visits are planned around the child’s and foster parents’ schedule as well as the birth family’s schedule. Most visits start out supervised by local DSS, and over time, as reunification progresses. Some children will have trial home visits. Many foster parents find that supporting this connection, even in small ways, helps a child feel more secure and makes reunification go more smoothly. We provide guidelines to help foster parents maintain healthy boundaries with the birth family. We also work closely with foster parents after each visit to support both them and the youth.
Can we foster if we have children at home, and how do you help prepare them?
Yes, many of our foster families have biological children in the home. Impact provides guidance and resources to help prepare existing children, including age-appropriate conversations, expectation-setting, and ongoing support as the family adjusts.
Thinking about fostering?
If you have questions about what this could look like for your household, we’re happy to walk through the specifics with you..
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