YOU NEVER OUTGROW THE NEED FOR FAMILY

The presence of a family in a child’s life and the subsequent feelings of being loved, supported and safe are critical needs that youth simply don’t outgrow with age. Whether you’re helping him with his tie on graduation day, driving her to her first day of middle school or cheering on two siblings at their soccer game, younger and older kids alike all flourish under the care and involvement of parents.

Each November we invite you to celebrate Virginia’s families during Adoption Month and get to know the vibrant and incredible youth in state care who are seeking a new life filled with love. The Real Stories of Foster & Adoptive Families is a collection of true stories that show how families were started, reunited and strengthened through foster care and adoption.

If you are willing to share an adoption or foster care story, please email us.

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CONSIDER ADOPTION IN VIRGINIA

The purpose of adoption is to place children who have been permanently and legally separated from their birth parents with a new family. In Virginia, over 60% of our foster care youth are adopted by their foster parent.

Click here to learn more about adoption.

#AdoptVAKids

Family

There are nearly 5,000 youth in Virginia’s foster care system, more than 600 of which are able to be adopted and eagerly awaiting a family to call their own. The children in foster care come from many different types of families and range in age from birth to 17 years of age. Use the search tool below to learn more about these amazing individuals or visit www.AdoptUSKids.com.

Family Match logo

Family-Match is an online network created exclusively for state workers to match adoptive families, foster families, and foster-to-adopt families with children in state care.

Individuals and families can create profiles outlining their interests, home environment and hobbies so that caseworkers can more easily connect waiting children with the most compatible family possible, thus shortening the time children remain in state care.

STEPS TO ADOPTION

Are you interested in expanding your family and making a difference in the life of a child? Are you interested in becoming an adoptive parent but are unsure about the steps you need to take? This pamphlet provides a step-by-step overview of what to expect about adoption through foster care in Virginia.

#AdoptionMonth

Support

Eastern Foster & Adoptive Family Recruitment, Home Study, Foster/Adoptive Parent (PRIDE) Training, Match Events, Virginia Heart Gallery Lutheran Family Services of VA (804) 716-6506 www.lfsva.org 11832 Rock Landing Drive Suite 105 Newport News, VA 23606
Central Foster & Adoptive Family Recruitment, Home Study, Foster/Adoptive Parent Training, Match Events, Virginia Heart Gallery Connecting Hearts in Virginia (804) 308-5946 www.connectingheartsva.org 2727 Enterprise Drive Suite 107 Henrico, VA 23294
Northern Foster & Adoptive Family Recruitment, Home Study, Foster/Adoptive Parent Training, Match Events, Virginia Heart Gallery Virginia One Church One Child (804) 329-3420 www.vaonechurchonechild.org 1214 West Graham Road Suite 2 Richmond, VA 23220
Piedmont Foster & Adoptive Family Recruitment, Home Study, Foster/Adoptive Parent Training, Match Events, Virginia Heart Gallery Virginia One Church One Child (804) 329-3420 www.vaonechurchonechild.org 1214 West Graham Road Suite 2 Richmond, VA 23220
Western Foster & Adoptive Family Recruitment, Home Study, Foster/Adoptive Parent Training, Match Events, Virginia Heart Gallery DePaul Community Resources (540) 265-8923 www.depaulcr.org 5650 Hollins Road Roanoke, VA 24019
Central, Eastern, Piedmont (Albemarle, Amherst, Appomattox, Augusta, Bedford, Campbell, Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Nelson, and Waynesboro ONLY) In collaboration with Intercept, Help Your Way and our CSB partners, adoptive families will be provided crisis stabilization services; assistance in the development and monitoring of crisis plans with family and team members as needed; access to community resources; and the provision of cross referrals. Youth and families who are experiencing an acute crisis of a psychiatric nature will received access to 24/7 community crisis services.   United Methodist Family Services (804) 353-4461
x.1447		 www.umfs.org 3900 W. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23230
Western (Lee, Ecott, Wise and Norton ONLY) Frontier Health currently provides a 24 hour, 7-day, 365 day a year crisis line to meet the urgent need of individuals living in Planning District One. Frontier Health (276) 523-8316 www.frontierhealth.org   3169 Second Avenue East Big Stone Gap, VA 24219
Piedmont Respite for parents through provision of night and day children/youth activities. DePaul Community Resources (540) 265-8923 www.depaulcr.org 5650 Hollins Road Roanoke, VA 24019
Central, Northern We provide respite sessions for pre and post adoptive families. These sessions will be conducted 8 times per year, 5 sessions in the Central Region and 3 sessions in the Fredericksburg region.  They are staffed by trained social workers who are able to meet the needs of children who have significant trauma and loss histories. Children's Home Society of Virginia (804) 353-0191
ext. 190		 www.chsva.org 4200 Fitzhugh Avenue Richmond, VA 23230
Central, Eastern, Piedmont (Albemarle, Amherst, Appomattox, Augusta, Bedford, Campbell, Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Nelson, and Waynesboro ONLY) Project REST will provide a respite opportunity up to 8 times per grant year in the Central region.  UMFS’s Community Respite Program, short term care with approved foster parents, will be offered to families on a continuous basis throughout the year, with a minimum of four weekend days offered to families will be utilized in the other regions.   United Methodist Family Services (757) 490-9791
(804) 353-4461
x.1447
 www.umfs.org 3900 W. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23230
Western (Lee. Scott, Wise & Norton ONLY) Respite events hosted by Post Adoption Services include day long events that allow adoptive parents a safe, structured place to bring their children that provides activities and fellowship. Frontier Health (276) 523-8316 www.frontierhealth.org   3169 Second Avenue East Big Stone Gap, VA 24219
Eastern Utilize the principles of Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) and Empowered to Connect (training based on the TBRI principles) in the Eastern Region to provide a three tiered service approach to families.  Catholic Charities of Eastern VA (757) 456-2366 www.cceva.org 5361 Virginia Beach Blvd. Virgnia Beach, VA 23462
Central, Northern Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®) Training for families, teaching parents a care-giving model to address complex developmental trauma.  This training will be conducted 4 times a year, twice in the Richmond area and twice in the Fredericksburg area.   Children's Home Society of Virginia (804) 353-0191
ext. 190		 www.chsva.org 4200 Fitzhugh Avenue Richmond, VA 23230
Northern Offer a total of 5 WISE Up! Trainings for families. Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.) (301) 476-8525 www.adoptionsupport.org 4000 Blackburg Lane Suite 260 Burtonville, MD 20866
Central, Eastern, Piedmont (Albemarle, Amherst, Appomattox, Augusta, Bedford, Campbell, Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Nelson, and Waynesboro ONLY) UMFS, C2Adopt and NAMI will provide on-going support groups, educational and training opportunities for adoptive families throughout the year on issues related to trauma, attachment, behavior management, therapeutic parenting, the core issues of adoption, the importance of telling the adoption story, trauma informed parenting techniques and attachment theory based interventions.    United Methodist Family Services (757) 490-9791
(804) 353-4461
x.1447
 www.umfs.org 3900 W. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23230
Western (Lee, Ecott, Wise and Norton ONLY) Free Adoptive Parent trainings will include post-adoption programs designed to specifically address concerns that adopted children and parents commonly face, these include: formalized parent education and training programs that have been proven effective in post-adoptive family treatment, workshops, and either counseling or linkage with adoption competent therapists.  Frontier Health (276) 523-8316 www.frontierhealth.org   4000 Blackburg Lane Suite 260 Burtonville, MD 20866
Central, Eastern, Piedmont (Albemarle, Amherst, Appomattox, Augusta, Bedford, Campbell, Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Nelson, and Waynesboro ONLY) UMFS will provide assessment, evaluation, therapy, crisis intervention and crisis response services to adoptive families whose children are at risk of out of home placements.   United Methodist Family Services (757) 490-9791
(804) 353-4461
x.1447
 www.umfs.org 3900 W. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23230
Piedmont Therapy for adoptive families and children by a Licensed Therapist  DePaul Community Resources (540) 265-8923 www.depaulcr.org 5650 Hollins Road Roanoke, VA 24019
Northern 1.    Provide direct adoption competent mental health services to a minimum of 18 children in the following counties (Annandale office): Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria, Prince William, and Manassas;   2. Provide direct adoption competent mental health services to up to 12 children in the following counties (Loudoun office): Loudoun, Clarke and Fauquier. Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.) (301) 476-8525 www.adoptionsupport.org 4000 Blackburg Lane Suite 260 Burtonville, MD 20866
Western (Lee, Ecott, Wise and Norton ONLY) Adoption-Competent Behavioral Health Services include local mental health providers, including therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists. Each site in PD1, served by Frontier Health, has identified Adoption Competent staff available to provide mental health treatment to adoptive families in the community. Most services are covered by private insurance, Medicaid or a sliding fee scale Frontier Health (276) 523-8316 www.frontierhealth.org   4000 Blackburg Lane Suite 260 Burtonville, MD 20866
Northern, Eastern, Piedmont Deliver the Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) to a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 20 mental health clinicians in the following counties: Rockingham/Harrisonburg, Page, Madison, Green, Orange, Shenandoah, Frederick/Winchester, Clarke, Warren Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.) (301) 476-8525 www.adoptionsupport.org 4000 Blackburg Lane Suite 260 Burtonville, MD 20866
Northern Offer a total of 5 S.A.F.E. at School trainings for educators Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.) (301) 476-8525 www.adoptionsupport.org 4000 Blackburg Lane Suite 260 Burtonville, MD 20866
Central, Eastern, Piedmont (Albemarle, Amherst, Appomattox, Augusta, Bedford, Campbell, Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Nelson, and Waynesboro ONLY) Therapists will be trained in adoption competent interventions, and in trauma and attachment work, that includes individual and family therapy and a psychoeducational model to provide parents with the knowledge base for understanding effective interventions with traumatized children.  United Methodist Family Services (757) 490-9791
(804) 353-4461 x.1447
 www.umfs.org 3900 W. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23230
Central, Eastern, Piedmont (Albemarle, Amherst, Appomattox, Augusta, Bedford, Campbell, Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Nelson, and Waynesboro ONLY) UMFS will utilize adoptive parent support partners and the parent peer support model to empower adoptive families and ensure that the voice of the youth and family is present and heard in developing the plan of services.  United Methodist Family Services (757) 490-9791
(804) 353-4461
x.1447
 www.umfs.org 3900 W. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23230
Piedmont Community-based support groups and child/activity support groups DePaul Community Resources (540) 265-8923 www.depaulcr.org 5650 Hollins Road Roanoke, VA 24019
Central Family Support Services will provide advocacy within systems, case coordination between schools and other service providers, and resources and referrals to adoption competent providers.  Our online adoptive parent support group, Connecting Strong Families, will also be opened up to any adoptive parents utilizing Family Support Services. This group is monitored daily during business hours by a trained social worker who provides topics, resources and feedback to parents.  Children's Home Society of VA (804) 353-0191
ext. 190		 chsva.org 4200 Fitzhugh Avenue Richmond, VA 23230
Central Parent Coaching is the most intensive service; we will start working with families once an adoptive match has been identified to best implement trauma-informed parenting strategies. We will continue to work with families on a weekly to bi-weekly basis usually 1-2 hours per week but increasing should the need arise. Parent Coaching is provided both in person and on the phone, starting at the adoptive match and continuing through finalization and the first year of the adoption if needed. Parent Coaching is clinical, trauma-informed, individualized support provided by a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who is also a Certified Trauma Specialist and TBRI Educator Children's Home Society of VA (804) 353-0191
ext. 190		 chsva.org 4200 Fitzhugh Avenue Richmond, VA 23230
Western On-site parent support groups and child activity/support groups at our Christiansburg, Abingdon and Cedar Bluff office locations community-based support groups and child/activity support groups  DePaul  (540) 265-8923 www.depaulcr.org 5650 Hollins Road Roanoke, VA 24019
Western (Lee. Scott, Wise & Norton ONLY) Adoptive or persons interested in adopting can attend monthly support group that provides child care, free training and fellowship. Groups will be open ended and allow for adoptive families to join at any point. At the same time the adoptive parents are being provided formalized training and education, social activities will be provided in which adoptive children can interact with each other.  Frontier Health  (276) 523-8316 www.frontierhealth.org   3169 Second Avenue East Big Stone Gap, VA 24219
Piedmont Case management, advocacy, educational advocacy, support and counseling for adoptive parents provided by a trained adoption specialist and centered around trauma, attachment and the seven core issues of adoption DePaul Community Resources (540) 265-8923 www.depaulcr.org 5650 Hollins Road Roanoke, VA 24019

SHARE YOUR STORY

Do you or someone you know have a story about adoption or foster care that you’d like to share? We’d love to post it! Email your story or contact information to public.affairs@dss.virginia.gov.

Love

Meet Marc and Angela Barber and hear their brave story of how they decided to adopt from foster care.

Meet Judy Bledsoe and her beautiful adoptive family!

Listen to Jackie Clayton and her family’s story of being adopted from foster care.

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