May is Foster Care Month in Fairfax County with the theme “Supporting Foster Care Changes Lives.”
During a recent episode of the County Conversation podcast, host Jim Person spoke with Julie Bowman, program manager with Foster Care and Adoption Resource and Support in the Department of Family Services, about the importance of foster care and the need for more foster parents.
In February 2025, there were 5,482 children in foster care in Virginia, with 247 of those children in Fairfax County. Despite being the largest jurisdiction in Virginia, Fairfax County has one of the lowest rates of children entering foster care in the country.
“We have a very strong prevention program, and our staff work really hard to provide families with the services they need while the children are still in their care so we can avoid the restrictiveness of foster care,” Bowman explained.
What is Foster Care?
Foster care is meant to be temporary. When children enter the custody of the Department of Family Services, a social worker acts as their legal guardian while their parents still maintain parental rights. The department works with birth parents to ensure children can safely return home.
“Our goal is always for children in foster care to return home,” said Bowman.
Children who enter foster care are separated from their current living situation and placed in a foster home. This can be a traumatic experience for children as everything in their environment changes.
Fairfax County prioritizes placing children with relatives when possible. Research shows that children placed with family members have better outcomes: they reunite with their birth families faster, have more stable placements and are more likely to graduate high school.
Why Children Enter Foster Care
The primary reason children enter foster care is abuse or neglect. This includes physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse or neglect.
Most children enter care due to neglect, which means their basic needs aren’t being met.
Other factors include domestic violence and substance use in the family.
The Need for Foster Parents
Fairfax County currently has about 100 certified foster parents caring for 247 children in foster care. There’s an ongoing need for more foster parents, especially those willing to take:
- Sibling groups (three or more siblings)
- Older teens
- Medically fragile babies
Becoming a Foster Parent
To become a foster parent in Fairfax County, you must be at least 18 years old and complete:
- A home study
- Five weeks of training with homework
- Online foster parent college courses
The best foster parents are compassionate and flexible, with an open mind to embrace the child’s birth family, culture and ethnicity.
Common misconceptions about foster parenting include:
- You don’t need to own your home (renters can foster)
- You can work full-time
- You can be single, divorced or married
- LGBTQ+ households are welcome
For those not ready to become full-time foster parents, there are other ways to help:
- Become a respite foster parent (providing short-term care)
- Volunteer with support organizations like Foster the Family
- Support through faith-based organizations like Project Belong
- Sponsor workshops or training sessions
Getting Started
For those interested in learning more about becoming a foster parent, Fairfax County offers virtual information sessions on the second Tuesday of each month.
“Come get the information, see how it fits in your work-life balance, and you’re not doing it alone,” Bowman said. “There are other foster parents. You have great workers with the county to really support you along the way.”
For more information about foster care in Fairfax County:
- Visit fairfaxcounty.gov and search “foster care” or visit our foster care month webpage.
- Email BeAFosterParent@fairfaxcounty.gov
- Call 703-324-7639
The County Conversation Podcast
The “County Conversation” is a podcast featuring employees and subject matter experts from the Fairfax County Government discussing programs, services and items of interest to residents of Fairfax County. Listen to past episodes of “County Conversation.” To find other county podcasts, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/podcasts.
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