Foster care (also known as out-of-home care) is a temporary service provided by each state for children who cannot live with their families. Children in foster care may live with relatives or with unrelated foster parents. Foster care can also refer to placement settings such as group homes, residential care facilities, emergency shelters, and supervised independent living.
In Virginia, foster care is a system designed to provide a safe, temporary living situation for children who cannot remain in their homes due to abuse, neglect, or other family crises. The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) oversees the foster care program, working with local departments to ensure the welfare of these children. Foster care placements can include living with approved relatives or with unrelated licensed foster parents. Other placement options encompass group homes, residential care facilities, emergency shelters, and supervised independent living for older youth. The goal of foster care in Virginia is to provide a stable and nurturing environment while working towards a more permanent solution, which could be reunification with the family, adoption, or independent living for older adolescents. The Commonwealth of Virginia also has specific laws and regulations that govern the foster care system, including the training and approval of foster parents and the rights and responsibilities of all parties involved in the foster care system.