Foster Care Services

 

About Foster Care

Foster care is a temporary living arrangement providing care and parenting for children who can no longer live in their homes because of abuse, neglect or other severe family problems. Family Service Specialists help families resolve problems so that their children can return home without further incidence of abuse or neglect.

  • Children may need foster families for a few days, months or years.
  • The need is greatest for African American and Caucasian children.
  • Families who can adopt teenagers, tweens, sibling groups and children with special needs are also among our greatest needs.

Foster Parent Qualifications

You must be:

  • Able to accept a child who needs a lot of patience, understanding and love
  • Over the age of 21
  • Married or single
  • In good health
  • With or without biological children
  • Financially secure
  • Living in a house or apartment in Lynchburg City or the surrounding Virginia area

We provide a 30-hour dual certification program and home assessment. All individuals/couples who successfully complete the class and home study process will be certified to foster and adopt.

 

QR Code for Foster Care Parent Application

To start the application process, scan the QR code.

Children in Foster Care

  • Are of all ages and races
  • Come from all kinds of family backgrounds
  • Are experiencing the pain of separating from their families

Strengthening Families

The goal of foster care is to strengthen families. During placement, social workers, foster parents and birth parents work together to facilitate the child returning home. When returning home is not possible, an alternative plan is made.

Family Services

Family Services are provided to individuals and their families to strengthen their relationships and their capacity to function independently. Home studies are done for the purpose of supplying the courts with information regarding the appropriateness of placements with persons seeking adoption, custody or visitation.
 

Foster Care Prevention

Foster Care Prevention/Family Preservation Program’s goal is to prevent the placement of children in substitute care, including foster care and residential home placement. The aim of Foster Care Prevention is to enhance the family’s ability to create and maintain a healthy home environment that will reduce the total number of children entering foster care and shorten the stay of children in foster care. This is managed by providing intensive services to families whose children are returned home from foster care and families who have children in need of services (CHINS).
 

Am I ready to Become a Foster/Adoptive Parent?

Take this simple quiz.

 

To complete a phone interview, contact:

Bobbie Armstrong (434) 455-5682

Department of Human Services
99 Ninth Street
Lynchburg, VA 24504

Additional Resources

Adopt-Us-Kids.org
Division of Social Services (State)
FacesofVirginia.org