Adoption

If a child in foster care cannot return home, kinship foster parents may become permanent caregivers through:

• If the court terminates the parents’ rights, you can adopt the child and become their legal parent.

Adoption by kin gives children in foster care a permanent, stable, and loving home with people they already know. Virginia uses a “Kin First” approach, which means children should stay with family whenever it is safe and possible.

1. Become an Approved Resource Parent

• • Relatives or fictive kin must complete the resource family approval process, which includes:
    • Background checks (criminal, CPS registry, DMV)
    • Home visits and safety checks
    • Mutual Family Assessment (MFA), also called a home study
    • Pre-service training to prepare caregivers for foster care and adoption

2. Care for the Child in Foster Placement

• • The child must live with the relative or fictive kin as a foster placement before adoption can move forward.
  • During this time, LDSS provides support to help keep the placement stable and meet the child’s needs.

3. Adoption Planning

• • If the child cannot safely return home, adoption becomes the goal.
  • Relatives or fictive kin work with LDSS to:
    • Review the child’s permanency plan
    • Make sure all legal steps are completed
    • Learn about financial supports, such as adoption assistance

4. Legal Adoption Process

• • LDSS helps relatives or fictive kin file the needed court paperwork.
  • The court reviews the case to make sure adoption is best for the child.
  • Once approved, the caregiver becomes the child’s legal parent.

5. Post-Adoption Support

• • Families may receive:
    • Adoption assistance payments
    • Services for children with special needs
    • Support from VDSS and local agencies to help keep the family stable

If you want to become a kinship caregiver, or if you have a child, you would like a family member or close family friend to care for, contact your  local department of social services.