703-324-7500
TTY 711
Nannette Bowler,
Director
Today, nearly 200 Fairfax County children are in foster care. The Department of Family Services' Foster Care and Adoption Program offers temporary foster homes for these children, and services to help their families. When a child cannot return home safely, we seek to find relatives who want to care for the child, and are legally eligible to do so. If a relative is not identified, or is unable to care for the child, we seek a permanent home through adoption.
They are children in Fairfax County who:
Foster care refers to finding a temporary home for a child outside the home where he or she had been raised. This may occur as a result of abuse, neglect or other circumstances that put the child at risk. During this time, family problems are addressed so that the child can return home safely, or plans are made to find a safe and nurturing home for the child outside his or her birth family.
Adoption provides a permanent home when a child cannot return to the parents or relatives.
People who:
What you might not know about becoming a foster parent is:
Are you interested in becoming a foster parent? Come to one of our monthly information meetings or give us a call at 703-324-7639 or TTY 703-222-9452.
Foster parents offer children safety and stability until they can return to their families or go to permanent homes. Foster families offer different types of care:
Our foster parents receive:
Learn more from this Inside Scoop Virginia video.
Learn all about being a foster parent at a monthly information meeting.
Foster Family News is a monthly newsletter designed to keep foster parents informed about all the new and notable happenings in Fairfax County. Find out what the Foster Care & Adoption program has planned for foster families, plus stay on top of trends, trainings and policy changes. Foster Family News comes out the beginning of each month.
Meet some of the families who know firsthand. Hear their personal stories to learn more about their journey.
The Zeller family has been honored as the 2018 Foster Parents of the Year for Fairfax County by Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. The Zellers are currently parenting a 2-year-old who joined their family when she was 14 months old. Despite facing many personal challenges this past year, the Zeller family continues to provide exemplary care for the child by being proactive in utilizing professional supports and advocating for the child's needs. The Zellers strive to maintain relationships with children and birth parents whom they have previously fostered. Check out their story!
"Finding my forever family has made such a big impact in my life! We enjoy being together, supporting each other, and making lots of new memories. I strongly encourage anyone considering fostering or adopting to do it - you can make all the difference in the life of a kid like me."
Mikalah
"As a first-time single parent, I was nervous about raising a teenager, but everything fell into place the minute I met her, and it's been an exceptional experience ever since!"
Lesley
"I have learned that adoption is not for the faint of heart. Some days I am aggravated. Some days I am exasperated. Some days I am heartbroken. Some days I ask, 'what have I gotten myself into?' But every day I know that this is among the greatest things I have ever done. In some situations you are literally saving a child's life. But in every situation you are offering a child the opportunity to see all the possibilities this world has to offer."
Leslie
Who better to share about foster parenting experiences than foster parents themselves? Mr. & Mrs. D give firsthand insight into their foster parenting journey.
Thinking about becoming a foster parent? Get the details for providing a loving temporary home on “La Voz del Condado de Fairfax,” the County’s new Spanish-language radio program on WUST-1120 AM.
We celebrated our adoptive families and all those who support them! Learn more about the Fairfax County-sponsored events that marked Adoption Awareness Month.
Learn more information in the Foster Care Month proclamation.