Can I Become a Foster Parent for My Niece, Nephew or Grandchild in Virginia?

Yes.

If a child cannot safely remain with their parents, Virginia gives clear priority to considering family. State law requires local departments to first consider placement with a kinship foster parent when placing a child. That does not mean every relative placement will be approved, but it does mean your relationship to the child matters and should be explored. If you want to care for your niece, nephew, grandchild, sibling or another relative who is entering foster care, tell the child’s worker clearly that you want to be considered.

What does becoming a kinship foster parent mean?

You are not volunteering to foster any child in need of a home. You are being assessed to care for a particular child with whom you already have a family connection. You will still need to meet the applicable approval requirements. Expect background checks, conversations about your household and relationships, a review of the home, preparation and training, and discussion of the child’s needs. Virginia regulations now include specific flexibility for kinship foster parents. Temporary waivers can be available for certain requirements, including preservice training and parts of the approval process, for a limited period. Permanent waivers may be granted for certain home standards when safety and proper care are not jeopardized.

Your relationship with the parents matters too

Fostering a relative is not only about your relationship with the child. You may need to work with a son, daughter, brother, sister or other relative whose choices have led to a painful family situation. Foster care also asks caregivers to support safe family relationships and reunification when that remains the plan. That can be hard. Being honest about family dynamics helps the team understand what support you will need.

What if you are not in Virginia?

You can still tell the Virginia worker that you want to be considered. Interstate placements are common enough that every state participates in the ICPC framework. The receiving state will usually have a role in assessing the proposed home and supervising an approved placement. The process adds coordination and time, so make your interest known early. Do not assume someone living in Virginia will automatically be preferred simply because they are closer. The child’s safety, relationships, needs, and the suitability of the proposed placement all matter.

Where ESP fits

Extra Special Parents supports foster and resource families across Virginia. Our role is to help families understand the foster parent journey, prepare for the realities of caregiving, and ensure they have support around them once a child is placed. For kinship families, that matters because the decision often arrives before the preparation. You already know the child. We help you understand the fostering role that now sits around that relationship.

Where Extra Special Parents FIT

If you want to be considered for a relative who is in Virginia foster care, tell the child’s DSS worker now. If you need help understanding what it means to become a kinship foster parent, contact Extra Special Parents.