Really helpful information for Kinship and foster parents

  • couple sitting with social worker What Financial Help Is Available When I’m Raising a Relative’s Child in Virginia?
    In Virginia, trusted adults such as godparents, neighbors, coaches, and family friends may be considered for kinship care when they have an established relationship with a child.…
  • a family of four placing hands on of top of the other Do I Have to Become a Foster Parent to Care for a Relative’s Child?
    Kinship care in Virginia does not always mean becoming a foster parent. Learn the differences between kinship care arrangements, when foster parent approval may be required, and…
  • foster mom sitting with foster daughter Do I Have to Become a Foster Parent to Care for a Relative’s Child?
    This article explains that kinship care in Virginia is a relationship, not one legal arrangement. Relatives and trusted adults may care for children through options such as the…
  • Foster mom and dad reviewing paperwork My Friend’s Child Needs Somewhere Safe to Live. Can I Help?
    This article explains how Virginia family friends and other trusted adults may provide care when a child cannot safely remain with their parents. It highlights kinship care…
  • Kinship parent sitting at his kitchen table with a phone in this hand Kinship & Fictive Kin Care in Virginia: First Steps
    The call may come without warning: a child in your family or circle needs a safe place, and a social worker wants to know whether you can help. Before you answer, learn what…
  • Teddy bear sitting in the car Can I Care for a Child I’m Not Related to in Virginia?
  • Uncle sitting with kids at kitchen table Can I Become a Foster Parent for My Niece, Nephew or Grandchild in Virginia?
    This article explains how relatives can become kinship foster parents in Virginia when a child enters foster care. It emphasizes Virginia’s priority for considering family…
  • Grandparents with grandchild I’m Raising My Grandchild in Virginia. What Help Can I Get?
    Grandparents caring for grandchildren in Virginia may face unexpected questions about custody, financial support, DSS involvement, and foster care. Learn how kinship care works,…
  • Kin Family sitting with DSS DSS Asked Me to Care for a Relative’s Child. What Happens Next?
    This article provides practical guidance for relatives and trusted adults responding to a sudden request from DSS to care for a child in Virginia. It explains different kinship…
  • grandma and aunt sitting with child What Is Kinship Care and Why Is It Important?
    This article explains kinship care in Virginia and why children benefit from staying with relatives or trusted adults they already know. It describes kinship arrangements,…