Foster Care & Adoption

Voices Foster Care & Adoption Work

Voices advocates to reform the foster care system in Virginia so that children in foster care have the opportunity to build permanent family connections and have the supports needed to successfully transition to productive adulthood.

Foster care is a program run by the state of Virginia that provides temporary care for children who cannot live with their parents or other relatives.  Through this system, the local department of social services takes legal custody for a child when that child’s parent or parents are unable to care for him or her because of neglect and/or abuse. Placement of a child in foster care should be temporary until a more permanent solution is found.  Preferred options include working with the families to improve conditions in order to return the child to their home, placement with a relative, or adoption.

BECOMING A FOSTER CARE PARENT

For more information on becoming a foster, adoptive, resource or kinship parent, please contact your local department of social services or call 1-888-837-7232.

SUCCESSES

Since 2007, Voices has worked collaboratively with FACES of Virginia Families, the Virginia Poverty Law Center, and the state’s Children’s Services System Transformation to advocate for and implement sweeping changes to Virginia’s child welfare system. Specific achievements include:

• 35% increase in payments to adoptive and foster families.
• Improvements in recruitment and retention of foster and adoptive families.
• Financial incentives for localities to serve children in the community rather than in institutional settings.

SNAPSHOT OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE

FOSTER CARE POLICY GOALS

• Ensure the implementation of the federal Fostering Connections Act that provides Virginia opportunities to promote permanency and outcomes for children in foster care in the following areas: support for kinship care, support for older youth in care, coordinated health services, improved educational stability, incentives for adoption.
• Expand support services to families to prevent foster care placement.
• Expand support for relative caregivers (Kinship Care).
• Maintain policy changes incentivizing community-based services.

FOSTER CARE PARTNERS IN VIRGINIA

FACES of Virginia Families (Virginia’s Foster, Adoptive and Kinship Association):  FACES of Virginia Families is a non-profit membership-driven Association offering information, support and resources for foster, adoptive and kinship families.  Contact Cate Newbanks, FACES Project Director, for more information.

Virginia Poverty Law Center:  VPLC is a not-for-profit organization concentrating in the following areas of law that affect low-income families: consumer, elder rights, family, health care, housing, and public benefits.

FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION PUBLICATIONS

Voices for Change: The Creative Vision of Virginia's Foster Youth
Download a copy of the collection of works submitted by youth in foster care for the 2008 "Voices for Change" art contest or watch a slideshow of the artworks now.

Foster Care in Virginia: A Place to Call Home (January 2008)

Media statement on report highlighting youth "aging out" of Virginia's foster care system. (May 2007)

VOICES FOR CHANGE ART CONTEST

In 2009, Voices, the Virginia Poverty Law Center, FACES of Virginia Families, and ART 180 hosted the second annual VOICES for Change, an art initiative to amplify the voices of youth in foster care.  Youth were encouraged to submit an original essay, poem, painting, illustration or photograph expressing their feelings about transitioning to adulthood.  A panel of expert judges reviewed the submissions and selected winners in writing, photography, and two-dimensional art.  In December 2009, Governor Kaine and First Lady Anne Holton hosted an awards ceremony at the Executive Mansion where the award winners were honored and presented with awards totaling more than $2,500! 

Voices and VPLC staff celebrate at the 2009 VOICES for Change Awards Ceremony
hosted by Governor Kaine and First Lady Holton at the Executive Mansion.

A compilation of all the submissions is available online.  For more information about receiving a hard copy (for a small donation), please contact Katie McCall. 

View the slideshow of artwork submitted for the 2009 "Voices for Change" art contest.

Many thanks to the 2009 VOICES FOR CHANGE sponsors:

Annie E. Casey Foundation
The Freddie Mac Foundation
Court Improvement Program, Office of the Executive Secretary, Supreme Court of VA
Dominion
Marks & Harrison
Virginia Department of Social Services, Foster Care Independent Living Program
Al Marschall, Graphic Designer

A compilation of the 2008 VOICES FOR CHANGE submissions is also available online.