Really helpful information for Kinship and foster parents
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How Do We Support Kinship Families After the Child Is Placed? What happens after a kinship child is placed? Learn how Virginia DSS teams and foster family support providers can help kinship families navigate changing child needs, parent… -
The Kinship Family Lives in Another State. What Happens Next?Out-of-state relatives and trusted adults can be important options when finding a safe placement for a child in Virginia foster care. Learn how ICPC coordination, family… -
I Need Help Supporting a Kinship Foster Family. Who Can I Call? -
What Support Helps Kinship Foster Families Stay Strong?Kinship placement brings a child into a familiar home, but it can also bring new pressures for the entire household. Learn how Virginia kinship families can receive practical,… -
How Do I Explain Foster Parent Approval to a Kinship Caregiver? For a grandparent or relative, “becoming a foster parent” can sound overwhelming—but kinship foster care starts with an existing relationship. Learn how Virginia families can… -
What Can I Do When a Kinship Caregiver Is Struggling With Approval? When a kinship caregiver says, “I can’t do this,” the underlying barrier may be overwhelm rather than unwillingness. Learn how Virginia child welfare professionals can identify… -
Can a Family Friend or Fictive Kin Become a Foster Parent in Virginia? Kinship care in Virginia can include trusted adults who have an established, family-like relationship with a child. Learn how identifying fictive kin during family finding can… -
What Are the Requirements for Kinship Foster Parent Approval in Virginia? What does a kinship caregiver have to do to become approved in Virginia? Learn about background checks, home safety, household relationships, training, waiver provisions, and the… -
How Quickly Can a Kinship Foster Home Be Approved in Virginia?Urgent kinship placements require both timely action and careful safety planning. Learn how Virginia child welfare professionals can use current kinship pathways, communicate… -
What Is Virginia’s Kinship Waiver and When Can It Be Used?Can an out-of-state relative become a kinship caregiver for a child in Virginia? Learn how ICPC helps coordinate interstate kinship placements, what relatives should expect, and… -
I’ve Identified a Potential Kinship Caregiver. What Happens Next? -
I’m Already Caring for a Relative’s Child. What Support Can I Get? Already caring for a relative or child you know in Virginia? Learn how your legal and child welfare status can affect decision-making, financial assistance, training, childcare,… -
What Is ICPC and Why Does It Matter for Kinship Care?What is ICPC, and how does it affect kinship care? Learn how Virginia families can navigate interstate foster and kinship placements, including home assessments, background checks… -
My Relative’s Child Lives in Another State. Can They Come and Live with Me in Virginia?This article explains how Virginia residents can seek placement of a relative or child they know who is currently in foster care in another state. It outlines the Interstate… -
I Live in Another State. Can I Care for a Relative’s Child in Virginia? Can relatives who live outside Virginia become kinship caregivers? Learn how interstate kinship placements work, what ICPC means, how relatives can be considered, and why… -
What Will DSS Check Before I Can Care for a Relative’s Child? Worried about a background check or home assessment for kinship foster care in Virginia? Learn what DSS may review, how kinship-specific flexibility can apply, and why honesty,… -
What Financial Help Is Available When I’m Raising a Relative’s Child in Virginia?Raising a relative’s child can bring unexpected costs, but financial help may be available to kinship caregivers in Virginia. Support can depend on the child’s legal status,… -
Do I Have to Become a Foster Parent to Care for a Relative’s Child?You do not always have to become a licensed foster parent to care for a relative’s child in Virginia. Depending on the situation, relatives may provide kinship care through an… -
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 & Fictive Kin Care in Virginia: First StepsThe 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…