VIRGINIA’S CHILDREN NEED YOU AND ARE WAITING FOR YOU

More than 800 children in Virginia are legally free for adoption. Adoption is a social, emotional, and legal process through which children become full and permanent members of another family, giving the new parent(s) the same rights and obligations as biological parents.

Adoption is also multifaceted, occurring in different ways to meet the specific needs of children. For example, kinship adoption by blood relatives or fictive kin who have an emotional connection with the child is one way for Virginia’s children to stay connected to their family, culture and traditions. Foster parents in Virginia also often become forever families to children and have adopted over 60% of our youth in foster care.

In Virginia, we prioritize reunifying children with their families whenever possible, and finding kinship caregivers or loving adoptive families for children when reunification is not possible.

We ask that you consider getting curious – about everything you know or think you know about adopting a child (or children!). Consider opening your heart and home to a child. Consider adoption.

Search for Children Available for Adoption

Kinship Care

Kinship care is a way for Virginia’s children to stay connected to family when they are unable to live with their biological parents. When children enter foster care, relatives and/or fictive kin can become their primary caregiver (also called ‘kinship care provider’). When children are not able to return home, the kinship care provider who has been the child’s approved foster parent may then consider adopting the child. Kinship care is critical to reducing separation- related trauma, promoting stability, and maintaining family and cultural connections. Learn more.

CONSIDER ADOPTION IN VIRGINIA

The purpose of adoption is to place children who have been permanently and legally separated from their biological parents with a new family. In Virginia, over 60% of our foster care youth are adopted by their foster parent. Adoption in Virginia is an 11 step process that ensures the best fit and success for both the family and youth in care. Learn more about adoption.

Virginia Post-Adoption Support

Adoption is a pathway to a permanent, safe and loving family for many children. As an adoptive family, there may be times when you experience highs and lows and could use a helping hand. This section aims to do just that, by providing post-adoption resources and information in your area, so you have access to a range of support when and where you need it.

To provide these post-adoption support services to adoptive families such as yours, the Virginia Department of Social Services’ Division of Family Services has organized localized agencies, known as the Regional Post-Adoption Consortium.

No matter where you live in Virginia, a regional consortium is working together to provide post-adoption services to you.

Foster Care

Foster care is intended to be a temporary solution for children who have been removed from their birth family homes due to neglect, abuse, abandonment, or other endangerments to their health and/or safety. Every effort is made to help the child remain or return with his or her family, however, when reunification (or the process of returning a child to his or her birth family) is not possible, then adoption occurs as a permanent outcome in the best interest of the child. Becoming a foster parent is also the first step in the adoption process. Learn more about foster care.

Adoption Disclosure

Adoption Disclosure involves the official release of information from the sealed adoption record of an adopted child. The Virginia Department of Social Services maintains a permanent file of all adoptions finalized in Virginia on or after July 1, 1942. Whether you’re an adult adoptee, adoptive parent, birth parent, or adult birth sibling, you can request information from an adoption file. Learn more.

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

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