How To Become a Foster Parent
We are looking for people who have compassion and patience, who desire to make a positive difference in a child’s life.
As with any parenting journey, when you become a foster parent, you can expect challenges. At JBRI, we are always there to support you. A case manager is available 24/7 and you’ll have access to therapists and support from The Barry Robinson Center and JBRI Outpatient Services.
Rewards of Becoming a Foster Parent
Make a Difference
You’ll make a difference in the life of a child in need.
Lifelong Relationships
You’ll form lifelong relationships with the children that you foster.
Ongoing Training
You’ll receive ongoing training and support.
Financial Assistance
You’ll receive financial assistance, based on the child’s clinical needs.
Foster Parent Requirements
The JBRI Treatment Foster Care program’s requirements are aligned with the Commonwealth of Virginia foster care requirements.
- Virginia Resident: Our program only certifies foster parents in Virginia. Most of our parents live in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Hampton and Newport News.
- Aged 25 or older.
- Room in your home to accommodate at least one child. You can be a renter or own your own home.
- Financially Secure: You can be working or retired.
- Complete foster parent inquiry form, application and interview.
- Complete a home study and inspection.
- Submit to and pass a criminal background check.
- Supply financial and health statements.
- Provide references.
Need more information? Contact us and we’ll get back to you.
Contact UsReady for the first step?
Fill out the Foster Parent Inquiry FormFoster Parent Training
Foster parents receive extensive initial and continuing training to learn how to best support children and meet their developmental needs.
Once the application process is complete, approved prospective foster parents must complete comprehensive initial training to prepare for successful foster parenting.
We certify families using the PRIDE (Parent Resources for Information, Development and Education) curriculum developed by the Child Welfare League of America. This curriculum prepares foster parents in five categories:
- Protecting and nurturing children.
- Meeting children’s developmental needs.
- Supporting children’s relationships with their birth families.
- Connecting children to safe, nurturing relationships.
- Working as a member of a professional team.
Contact us to learn more about becoming a foster parent, or start your application today.
Typically, certification can take several weeks or longer, depending on completion of a home study, background checks and initial parent training.
Many factors influence a child’s need for fostering. Children and teens may come into foster care at any time. When you foster a child will depend on a child’s needs and your ability to accept a particular child, based on age, gender and other factors.
We work closely with all foster parents and caseworkers to find the most appropriate family setting for each child. We understand that circumstances sometimes result in a foster parent being unable to accept a child.
Each child or teen has an individualized foster care treatment plan with established goals. Some children will have a goal of family reunification, and the child will remain with the foster family until reunification is possible. In other cases, the child may be unable to return to his or her birth parents and will remain in foster care.
When appropriate, the case manager will work with you to coordinate and schedule any involvement between the foster family, child and birth family.
Sometimes a foster child cannot return home to his or her birth family. If the foster family is interested in adoption, we can assist in the adoption process.