Human Services
Foster Care
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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.
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.
- 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
- 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 and sibling groups.
An 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 30-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.
Our next scheduled foster parent info session is on:
Saturday, June 8, 2013, 10 AM - 12 PM
For more information, please contact our office at:
Phone: (703) 228-1550
E-mail: openheartsopenhomes
Llámenos para obtener información en español.