About Foster Care Services

Ideally, at-risk children should remain with their actual families whenever possible. Although foster care services offered by the state of Virginia make every effort to keep them together, it isn't always possible. Once it is determimed that a child must leave the family unit and go into foster care, a host of other services become available to them which are designed to promote child safety and well-being within a nurturing, family environment. Services provided are tailored to the unique needs of a child and could include:

• Placement services
• Teaching independent living skills
• Physical or mental health treatment
• Mentoring
• Opportunity for a permanent living situation

Prevention Services

• Counseling for children and families
• Crisis intervention
• Respite care
• Providing basic needs such as food, furniture, clothing and shelter

Placement Services

This involves placing a child with a foster family, group home, residential children's facility or an independent living arrangement.

Teaching independent Living Skills

Services are designed to help foster care ages 14-21 to develop the skills necessary to transition from foster care to self-sufficiency. Personal development skills such as self-esteem, communication skills, decision-making, conflict resolution and anger management are emphasized.

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Physical or mental health treatment

This care often includes help with:

• Substance abuse
• Depression
• Socialization
• ADHD
• Nutritional deficiency
• Pregnancy
• Physical disabilities

Mentoring

• Providing good role models for parents
• Role modeling such as big brother/big sister programs
• Tutoring

Opportunity for a permanent living situation

This involves fostering relationships between children and relatives or previous caregivers. For older youth leaving care this might include helping find an apartment or a roommate.