Welcome to the 2024 January issue of Foster Family News, a monthly newsletter for current and potential Fairfax County foster parents. Our monthly newsletter shares resources, news, tips, events, and trainings relevant to foster and adoptive parents, children in care, and the resource workers who support them. 

Meet Fairfax County foster parents, Tremayne and Bryant. This couple received their first foster care placement, Smith, on July 13, 2020, when he was only 11 days old. So far, this has been their only placement and it resulted in the family adopting Smith. Learn more about Tremayne and Bryant’s story and how they work together as a team with the department to keep Smith connected with his birth family and relatives. Check out their video to learn how we help connect children with forever families through adoption.
 

The Foster Closet provides new and gently used gear, clothing, and toys at no charge to kinship (relative) families and foster parents when they receive a placement. It has helped many families get a head start on providing kids with all they need to adjust in their new homes. Learn more about this resource.

Learn about the work of the newly formed Fostering Futures Unit, and the foster care specialists working to make sure that every older youth leaving foster care has permanency, lifelong connections, and the best possible transition to adulthood. Read more.

Mary Lou Withem has been a volunteer supporting programs in the Children, Youth, and Families Division of the Department of Family Services since 2015. Volunteering as an administrative assistant with Fairfax County’s Volunteer and Partner Services Program and predominantly supporting Foster Care and Adoption has been an avenue for Withem to do the professional work she loves. She has invested over 4,000 hours of her time supporting these programs. Learn more about her life and impact on so many in our community. Read more. 
 

Did you know that adoptive parents and foster parents may be eligible for some tax credits for the children in their care?  The Department of Family Services doesn’t employ tax experts, so we suggest that you talk with a tax professional for your individual income tax preparation decisions. However, we can offer some general tax information for your awareness.
 

The Department of Family Services’ Facility dog, Rylynn, hosted a party and invited several of her furry friends from Canine Companions® along with their handlers! The guests of honor were older youth in Fairfax County Foster Care. We would like to extend our thanks to all the volunteers who made this day special. Read more.

Jan. 1 – First Day Hikes at Virginia State Parks or Fairfax County Parks. America’s State Parks encourages everyone to start the new year with a healthy, family-friendly hike. Start 2024 with a Virginia First Day Hike. Enjoy free entry and parking at all Virginia State Parks or Fairfax County Parks.

Through Jan. 7 – Holiday Light Shows in Northern Virginia. Drive, walk, or skate your way through these local Northern Virginia Regional Parks for a few more days of dazzling outdoor fun and outdoor festivals.

The Department of Family Services supports families and county residents of all ages and stages of life – and that definitely includes foster parents and families! Like and Follow @FairfaxCountyFamilyServices for news, events, tips, stories, training opportunities and more.

A variety of organizations offer support to adoptive, foster, and kinship care families in our region. Register online for a preferred support group. 

Thursdays, Jan. 4 and Feb. 1, 6:30-8 p.m. – Formed Families Forward Virtual Fairfax Kinship Support Group provides a safe, nurturing, and healthy environment for caregivers to share their experiences, concerns, and frustrations with their peers. In partnership with Fairfax County Government.

Sundays, Jan. 7 and Feb. 4, 7:30-9 p.m. – Formed Families Forward Virtual Peer Support Groups for foster, adoptive, and kinship families. 

Mondays, Jan. 8 and Feb. 12, 6:30-8 p.m. – Foster the Family D.C. Support Groups for foster, kinship, and adoptive moms. Fairfax County 

Wednesday, Jan. 17, 7-8:30 p.m. – Formed Families Forward in-Person Peer Support Groups for foster, adoptive, and kinship families.

Each newsletter will include this section to help answer questions, spotlight the people who support foster families, highlight the donors and sponsors who generously give to foster care programs and activities and friendly reminders for foster families to sign-up for trainings.

How long does the court/administrative process take for reunification, termination of parental rights and adoption?

Answer: Reunification: The initial court process to work toward reunification or relative placement is one year. However, this time can be extended for a variety of reasons. The first foster care-related court hearing is called a dispositional hearing and occurs within 60 days of a child entering foster care. This is the hearing where the permanency goal outlined on the child’s service plan is approved. Prior to this hearing, you will receive a copy of the service plan that describes the permanency goal (i.e., return home) and what needs to happen to achieve the goal. The next court hearing is called a foster care review hearing, and it is scheduled within four months after the 60-day dispositional hearing. The purpose of this hearing is to review progress made on the initial foster care service plan by all parties and to make changes to the plan.

Termination of Parental Rights: A third foster care hearing, known as the permanency planning hearing, occurs within five months of the foster care review hearing and within 11 months of the date. The purpose of this hearing is to establish a permanent goal for a child and to either achieve the permanent goal, or to defer through the approval of an interim plan. If an interim plan is approved, a second permanency planning hearing will occur within six months. Other outcomes for this hearing include a change of goal and/or requesting approval of a termination of parental rights petition. If approved, a subsequent hearing for a trial is scheduled. The timeframe for this varies. In some cases, the trial can occur at the time of the permanency planning hearing.

Adoption: After the court approves the termination of parental rights, cases are reviewed by the court on an annual basis. The purpose of these hearings is to monitor the progress toward the goal of achieving permanency through adoption. In addition, six-month adoption progress reports are sent to the court and all parties on the case. The permanency timeline for finalizing an adoption is 24 months from the time a child enters foster care. This timeframe varies based upon the adoption recruitment process, the needs of a child and those of the adoptive family. The adoption process will include the following:

• an approved adoptive home study or mutual family assessment for the family
• the adoptive family enters into a legal adoption agreement
• the Department provides supervisory visits to the child and adoptive family for at least six months
• adoption full disclosure is given to the adoptive family
• an approved adoption assistance agreement for support and needed services
• Adoption Consent given by the agency director
• an adoption attorney contracted for/retained by the adoptive family
• all legal documents completed and filed in Circuit Court
• a Final Order of Adoption signed by the Circuit Court judge

Check out other frequently asked questions and answers from past issues.