Every year there are children who are in foster care with the Department of Family Services' who cannot return home safely. When family reunification is not possible, we seek to find relatives who are willing and able to care for the child. If a relative is not identified, or is unable to care for the child, we seek a permanent home through adoption.
Our Adoption Program offers a variety of programs and services to support families during and after adoption. Many services are offered at low to no cost to a foster family applying to adopt a child in our foster care program, whom they have been caring for through our agency.
In addition, other services include information and referral about adoption in Virginia, Adoption Counseling, and Home studies.
For more information, contact Kendra Smith at 703-324-7660.
Learn More About the Services Offered
When families are considering adoption, our Foster Care and Adoption program can help. If you are interested in adopting children through foster care, we offer some information on the process, requirements, eligibility, and resources available to families. Many children waiting for adoption are school aged and part of sibling groups. Learn more about adoption.
Are you raising a child for a family member or friend? If you answered “yes,” you are a kinship caregiver. The Department of Family Services helps kinship families who need a connection to services, such as child care, education, health care, and financial help, and are seeking support from professionals or peers. Learn more about kinship.
The Department of Family Services is able to help you with a search for biological family members separated through adoption. Learn more about the adoption search service and what an adoption reunion could look like.
- Adoption Snapshots – Get to know these families brought together through adoption.
- Foster Care and Adoption – Trainings and Conferences