There are enough kids in Virginia’s foster care system to fill 150 school buses.

Every school community has what it takes to change that. Impact Living Services is a Virginia-licensed child-placing agency, and we’re asking school communities across the state to help close that gap.

Start With a Conversation

Did you know there are over 5,000 young people in foster care in Virginia (Virginia DSS)? That’s enough to fill 150 school buses. With 2,015 schools statewide, imagine if each one had just 3 caring adults ready to foster. That alone could mean every child currently sleeping in a DSS office, waiting in an overcrowded group home, or stuck in residential care after doing everything right, finally has a home.

You May Already Know Children in Foster Care….

If you work in or around a school — or your own child has a classmate or friend in foster care — you likely already know a child in the system, even if you don’t realize it. They’re in the classrooms, lunch lines, libraries, front offices, and football fields your family moves through every day.

You might be:

Teacher or classroom aide
Bus driver
Food service or custodial staff
Librarian or front-office staff
Coach or administrator
Parent of a friend or teammate

Every day, you already encourage and support kids navigating one of the hardest seasons of their lives. The stigma around foster care — that these kids are “too difficult” — isn’t the truth. They’re kids whose families need time and support to heal, and what they need most is what every child needs: a safe place to sleep, encouragement in learning, and adults who believe in them.

See What Fostering Could Look Like for You

Why Foster Parents Are Often Found in Schools

School staff and families already understand kids — their needs, routines, and strengths. Stepping into foster parenting means extending that same care beyond the classroom or the carpool line, while staying a familiar, steady presence in a child’s school life.

Research backs this up: a stable foster home improves school performance, reduces behavioral challenges, and builds a sense of belonging. Kids with even one consistent, supportive adult are far more likely to thrive academically, emotionally, and socially.

Ongoing Support for Foster Families

24/7 support from trained foster care staff
Continued education and specialized training matched to the child in your home
Connection with other foster families, so you’re never doing this alone

We’re not just here to license foster parents — we’re here to equip and encourage you, because the more supported you feel, the more stability and hope you can offer a child.