What Is Foster Care?
Foster care is a temporary, safe place for children and teens when their families are going through a difficult season. It might be because of challenges like substance use, mental health, housing instability, or safety concerns. The goal of foster care is not to replace a child’s family, but to provide stability and support while their parents work toward healing and reunification whenever possible.
Foster care does not always look neat or predictable like it does in the movies. It can be messy, emotional. And it can also be deeply meaningful.
Children in foster care need what every child needs: safe adults, consistent routines, and someone who believes in them. Foster parents partner with social workers, therapists, schools, and the child’s family to help create stability and hope during a time of uncertainty.
Many children stay for a short time. Some stay longer. But every child deserves to feel seen, safe, and supported while they are there.
In Virginia, there are currently 5,757 children in foster care. More than half are placed in non-relative foster homes, meaning families who opened their door to a child they had never met. Many are not waiting for a permanent home. They are waiting for a safe place to land while their families heal.
Who Can Foster?
There is no single “perfect” foster parent. Instead, what matters most is your willingness to learn, grow, and show up consistently. In fact, many people are surprised to learn they may already qualify.
In Virginia, foster parents must be adults, complete a home study, pass background checks and assessments, and complete the required training hours. Foster parents can go through the local department of social services (LDSS) or a licensed child-placing agency (LCPA). The process typically takes 3–6 months.
You may be able to foster if you:
- Are financially stable
- Can pass background and safety checks
- Have space in your home for a child
- Are patient and open to trauma-informed parenting
- Are willing to work as part of a team
Foster parents can be:
- Married, single, or partnered
- Homeowners or renters
- From any culture, faith, or background
- LGBTQ+
- Empty nesters, young professionals, or experienced parents
You do not have to be perfect. You do not need a big house. And you do not need to have all the answers. What matters most is a stable, caring environment and a heart willing to walk alongside a child.
Why Foster?
There are many reasons people choose to foster, but most begin with one simple thought: “If I can help, I want to.”
Foster parents make a difference in ways that often feel small but matter deeply:
- Providing safety during a crisis
- Helping a child stay connected to their culture and family
- Supporting parents as they work toward reunification
- Offering consistency, encouragement, and belonging
- Giving teens a safe launch into adulthood
- Creating stability for children with special or complex needs
Did you know? Of the 5,757 children currently in Virginia’s foster care system, 2,080 are teenagers between the ages of 13 and 18. Teens are among the hardest to place — and the ones who benefit most from a consistent, caring adult in their corner.
Sometimes the impact is immediate. Other times, you may not see the full story. Even so, seeds are planted in every relationship—confidence, resilience, trust, and hope.
Ultimately, foster care is not about changing a child’s entire life. Rather, it is about being present for one chapter that can shape everything that comes next.
Foster Care in Virginia Today
Behind every number above is a real child in a Virginia classroom, neighborhood, or community right now. More importantly, they are not waiting for a perfect situation. Instead, they are waiting for a consistent, caring person to show up. And while that person does not have to have all the answers, they simply have to be willing.
Could that someone be you?
Source: VDSS Foster Care (FC) Related Report, Monthly Snapshot (Feb 1, 2026). Virginia Department of Social Services.
