Local Foster Care Programs

We wanted to provide a place to see many of the upcoming training opportunities in RVA to reach out to children who need the love of Jesus and  someone who cares about them! By no means is this a comprehensive list, but includes where we have contacts and experience. Each meets a unique need in the community so note their area of focus. There are some wonderful folks in these organizations advocating for kids and need folks to come alongside them!

The basic requirements for becoming a foster parent are as follows:

• Be 21 years of age and older, single or married

• Be financially self-sustaining 

• Participate in a home study 

• Have adequate space for sleeping and indoor activities 

• Attend specialized training for dealing with abused or neglected children 

• Agree to background checks for criminal history and child abuse and neglect
• Obtain a tuberculosis test (TB)
• Permit home fire and health inspections
• Have pets vaccinated annually

Adoptive families go through chosen adoption agency for home study and adoption process.

Henrico County Social Services
Sharon Wilkerson-Gilpin, B.S.Foster Care & Adoptions Assistant
8600 Dixon Powers DR Henrico, VA 23273(804) 501-5518
wil29@co.henrico.va.us

Offer PRIDE training to be eligible for Fostering with ability to proceed to foster to adopt.

We have a great need for prospective foster parents willing to parent tweens and teens.

Henrico County's CASA program
CASA volunteers are Court-Appointed Special Advocates, trained communityvolunteers appointed by a Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Judge to advocate in court for children who are abused, neglected and otherwise in need of services. CASA volunteers offer children encouragement, stability, and hope during a complex and critical time in their lives.

UMFS - United Methodist Family Services
3900 West Broad Street
Anyone interested in learning more about Treatment Foster Care can contact:Tammy Franges, Resource Parent Liaison
(804) 353-4461 ext. 1310
tfranges@umfs.org

Adoption and foster care agency that offers PRIDE training; Will conduct a MA (mutual assessment) where families can ask ?s and determine if this is a good fit.
*need is for preteen and older teen families

Upcoming Richmond Training:

Sat. 10/27           9am-5 pm

Sat. 11/3             9am-5 pm

Tues. 11/6           6 pm- 9pm

Sat. 12/8             9am-5pm
Sat. 12/15           9am-5 pm

Tues. 12/18        6pm-9pm

Chester Training:
Sat. 11/3             9am-5pm
Sat. 11/10           9am-5pm
Tues. 11/13        6pm-9pm

Lutheran Family Services

Katie Sitterson, Adoption Worker(804) 288-0122
Email: ksitterson@lfsva.org

Offers adoption and treatment foster care services
*need families for children 10 years and older

CHSVA - Children!s Home Society of VA
Laura Ash-Brackley
4200 Fitzhugh Ave, Richmond, VA 23230-3829
(804) 353-0191

Adoption agency focused on adoption of children from foster care*need families for adoption of older children

CHS typically schedules training 6 sessions in a row. Families are invited to participate in training and we scheduled trainings in the fall and spring depending on the need. When families complete our training/home study they are eligible for foster to adopt. If families want to provide foster care they need to participate in DSS's training.

BAIR foundation
Kara Brooks
(804) 288-8210

Christian Foster Care

Classes are offered free of charge and there is no obligation to become certified if you attend the courses. Both parents are required to attend all classes to become certified with Bair, however classes do not have to be taken in order. Please have people call the office at 804-288-8210 or email kbrooks@bair.org with questions about the classes or to RSVP.