Do I Have to Become a Foster Parent to Care for a Relative’s Child?

Not always.

“Kinship care” describes a relationship, not one single legal arrangement. A child can live with a relative or trusted adult in several different ways, and whether you need foster parent approval depends on the child’s circumstances.
This is why the first question should not be, “Do I have to foster?” It should be, “What arrangement is being proposed for this child?”

Virginia has several kinship routes

Virginia’s public kinship guidance describes options including the Parental Child Safety Placement Program, custody transfer, kinship foster care, adoption, and KinGAP.
A Parental Child Safety Placement can provide temporary care with a relative or close friend for up to 90 days while the parent works with LDSS on safety concerns. The child is not simply treated as a foster placement under that program.
If the child enters foster care and you are the proposed caregiver, becoming an approved kinship foster parent can be the appropriate route.

Why foster parent approval can matter

Approval brings formal responsibilities, but it also connects the placement to foster care services and support.
Approved kinship foster parents are part of the child’s foster care team. They work with the agency, support the child’s case plan and family relationships, and meet the requirements attached to foster care.
If someone suggests avoiding approval because it seems easier, ask what rights, services and financial support you would lose under the alternative arrangement. Approval brings formal responsibilities, but it also connects the placement to foster care services and support.

Do not choose based only on today

A quick, informal solution can feel attractive in a crisis. Think about what happens in three months or a year. Who can consent to medical treatment? Who handles school decisions? What happens if the parent changes their mind? What financial support is available? What is the permanency plan? Ask those questions before assuming one route is better.

Get case-specific guidance

ESP can explain the foster-parent journey and support families in becoming resource parents. The child’s LDSS worker and, where needed, legal counsel should explain the specific legal arrangement and case consequences.
No blog can decide which route is right for an individual child. The aim is to help you ask better questions before you commit.

Where Extra Special Parents fits

If you are being asked to care for a relative’s child, ask the worker to name the proposed arrangement and explain what it means. If kinship foster care is the route, Extra Special Parents can support you through the foster parent side of that journey.