Real Stories of Foster & Adoptive Families
Family, belonging, acceptance, love -- The Real Stories of Foster & Adoptive Families is a compilation of the compelling anecdotes from foster families across the state of Virginia. These Virginians share the true stories of how families were started, reunited and strengthened through foster care and adoption. If you or someone you know is willing to share an adoption or foster care story, please email public.affairs@dss.virginia.gov.

What the Gunnings did not expect was to be tremendously inspired by the strength and perseverance of the biological parents they collaborated with.

Meg and David became foster parents in 2014 when they welcomed a brother-sister duo, David, two at the time, and Lexi, who was one years old.
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"Are we ready to do this?"
This is the question that Cassie Huskey asked her husband, Bart, as they looked at a newspaper advertisement calling for foster parents.

"Bring her to us."
With just those words, foster mother Bonna Williamson started her lifelong commitment to fostering

It took only four days for Jennifer and Anthony Thompson to realize that their lives would forever be changed

Divorced, living alone and searching for her next career move, Teresa Carpentieri felt an overwhelming urge to give back to her hometown, Roanoke, Virginia