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Human Services

Arlington County Foster Care/Adoption Program

 

En Español

Click here to watch an NBC Channel 4 video on the rewards of becoming a foster parent.

Foster Care is…
A temporary living arrangement providing parenting for children who cannot stay in their homes because of abuse, neglect or other family problems.  These children need foster families for a few days, months or years.

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

Foster Parents are…

  • Able to accept a child who needs a lot of patience, understanding and love
  • Over the age of 21
  • Married or single
  • With or without biological children
  • Employed inside or outside the home
  • Living in a house or apartment in Arlington County or the surrounding Virginia area

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

*Arlington County is in special need of foster families for African American, Hispanic and children of other cultural backgrounds.  We also need families for teenagers, children with emotional or physical handicaps, infants and sibling groups.

The Adoption Program is…
A natural outcome for children unable to return to birth or extended families.

Arlington County provides a dual certification program.  All individuals/couples who successfully complete the class and home study process will be certified to foster and adopt.

Get Involved

The certification process also includes a 27-hour training program and a home assessment.

Foster parents are given a monthly payment to meet the basic costs of caring for a foster child. Expenses for medical care, child care, therapy, and other special needs are also covered.

Speakers are available to give presentations about foster care to your church or community group. 

Foster Parents are Needed
To attend our next orientation session or to get more information, please contact the Arlington County Foster Parent Recruiter at:

Office: (703) 228-1550
e-mail: openheartsopenhomes 

Se habla español!


Last Modified: December 07, 2009
2100 Clarendon Blvd. Arlington, VA 22201 Tel: 703-228-3000 TTY: 703-228-4611