How to Become a Foster Parent in Virginia: Step-by-Step Guide for 2026

Most people who look into fostering in Virginia hit the same wall within the first week: they contact one office, get told to try a different one, wait three weeks for a callback that never comes, and quietly shelve the idea. The problem isn't the bureaucracy — it's that nobody explains upfront that Virginia has 120 separate local departments of social services (LDSS), each running their own licensing process. There is no single statewide application. Knowing that one fact cuts the confusion roughly in half before you even start.

Here is how the process actually works.

Step 1: Figure Out Which Agency Licenses You

Virginia's foster care system is state-supervised through the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS), but each of its 120 LDSS offices independently licenses foster homes within their jurisdiction. The office that licenses you is determined by where you live — not where the children in care are located.

If you live in Fairfax County, you apply to the Fairfax County Department of Family Services. If you live in Richmond City, you apply to Richmond City DSS. Applying to the wrong office adds weeks to your timeline because they will simply redirect you.

There is a second route: private licensed child-placing agencies (CPAs). Agencies like Bethany Christian Services, enCircle, and Children's Home Society of Virginia are licensed by the VDSS and can approve your home independently of the local DSS. CPAs are often faster to respond than public departments and typically offer more intensive training and post-placement support. The tradeoff is that CPAs may specialize in particular types of placements — therapeutic care, infant adoption, refugee placements — so your family's goals should align with the agency's focus.

Start by visiting the VDSS local agency finder at dss.virginia.gov/localagency to identify your local LDSS, then call them directly to ask about their next intake orientation.

Step 2: Attend an Orientation

Every LDSS and CPA begins the process with an orientation session — a group meeting where they explain the system, what fostering involves, and what the licensing requirements look like. Orientations are free. In Northern Virginia and the Richmond metro area, orientations often run monthly. In smaller, rural jurisdictions, they may only occur two or three times a year.

Since 2020, many agencies have expanded virtual orientation options. If your local LDSS does not have an upcoming session for several months, contacting a nearby CPA that serves your region may give you a faster starting point.

Step 3: Submit Your Application

After orientation, you complete a formal application with your local LDSS or chosen CPA. The application collects basic household information, references, and signed consent forms authorizing background checks. Submit this as early as possible because the background check process — not the training — is the most common timeline bottleneck.

Key documents you will need to gather:

• Proof of age (driver's license or passport)
• Proof of legal residency
• Three non-family personal references
• Recent financial documentation (three months of pay stubs, most recent tax return)
• Pet vaccination records if you have animals

Step 4: Begin Background Checks Immediately

Virginia requires background checks on every adult household member aged 18 and older. This includes:

• A Virginia State Police (VSP) criminal history search via form SP-167
• An FBI national fingerprint check through an authorized vendor such as Fieldprint
• A search of the VDSS Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry
• A sex offender registry check

The FBI fingerprint results are the most unpredictable in terms of timing — they can take a few weeks, or they can take several months if out-of-state checks are required. Do not wait until you finish training to start this process. Agencies will typically give you the background check paperwork at orientation or immediately after your application is submitted.

Under Virginia Code § 63.2-1721, certain "barrier crimes" create an absolute disqualification — these include violent felonies, crimes against children, and serious drug trafficking offenses. For some older non-violent misdemeanor convictions, a waiver may be available if ten or more years have elapsed and there is clear evidence of rehabilitation.

Step 5: Complete Pre-Service Training

Virginia requires 27 to 30 hours of pre-service training before your home can be approved for placement. As of October 1, 2025, the Commonwealth officially transitioned its state-endorsed curriculum to the National Training and Development Curriculum (NTDC). If you search online, most older resources still reference PRIDE (Parent Resources for Information, Development, and Education) or TIPS-MAPP — those curricula are now phasing out.

The NTDC takes a different approach than PRIDE. Rather than classroom-heavy competency categories, it uses modular online video and podcast-based content built around 14 characteristics associated with successful foster parents. Many modules can be completed at your own pace through a secure online platform, with some live sessions facilitated by your agency.

Training schedules are set by each individual LDSS or CPA. A large urban department like Fairfax County may run cohorts monthly; a rural department like Buchanan County may run one cohort per year. If your local LDSS has a significant wait for training, ask whether you can complete the online modules in advance to shorten the in-person component.

Step 6: Complete the Home Study (Mutual Family Assessment)

Virginia calls its home study process the Mutual Family Assessment (MFA). It is designed to be a two-way conversation, not just an evaluation — the agency learns about your family and you learn whether fostering is genuinely the right fit.

The MFA typically involves:

• At least three face-to-face interviews with a licensing worker, including one conducted in your home
• An autobiographical statement describing your upbringing, values, and parenting approach
• A physical inspection of your home against the safety standards in 22 VAC 40-141 (see the requirements article for detailed inspection criteria)
• Medical examinations for all adult household members confirming freedom from communicable diseases
• Review of all financial and background documentation

The entire licensing process — from application submission to final approval — typically takes three to six months. The most common delays are incomplete background check paperwork and home inspection failures related to medication storage and firearm security.

Step 7: Get Licensed and Enter the Placement Pool

Once approved, your family is entered into the OASIS (On-line Automated Services Information System) database. Your licensing worker will note your preferences — the age ranges and number of children you are prepared to accept, whether you are open to sibling groups, any special needs considerations — and placement coordinators will contact you when a child's needs match your profile.

Placements can come quickly, sometimes with as little as a 30-minute decision window for emergency removals that happen outside business hours. Having your home ready, a car seat, basic supplies, and a mental checklist of questions to ask the caseworker (the child's medical needs, school situation, and birth family visitation schedule) will help you respond confidently on short notice.

After your first placement, your license requires annual in-service training (typically 10 to 20 hours depending on the child's needs and your agency), annual interim reviews, and a full renewal process every 36 months including updated background checks and a home re-inspection.

The Fastest Way Through the System

The single biggest mistake applicants make is treating this as a linear process — wait for orientation, then apply, then start background checks, then start training. Every step that can run in parallel should run in parallel. Start background check paperwork the day you leave orientation. Gather your financial and medical documents during the weeks you are waiting for training to begin. That one adjustment alone typically saves six to eight weeks.

There are currently approximately 5,000 children in Virginia's foster care system on any given day, spread across the Commonwealth and served by those 120 LDSS offices. The caseworker vacancy rate in many localities runs as high as 35%, which means your responsiveness and preparation genuinely matters — a family that is licensed and ready is far more likely to receive a timely placement than one still working through paperwork.

If you want a single reference document covering every requirement, document checklist, training overview, and financial breakdown in one place, the Virginia Foster Care Licensing Guide covers the full process for 2026, including the NTDC curriculum transition and the current VEMAT enhanced payment rate tables.

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