Foster Families Needed Across Northern Shenandoah Valley to Keep Children Close to Home

Families in the northern Shenandoah Valley have an opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of children entering foster care, and local Department of Social Services officials say the need has never been greater.

In an interview with the Royal Examiner, Resource Program Coordinators for Foster Families of the Northern Shenandoah Valley, Carlie Pennington and Cara Smith, explained how their regional collaborative works to recruit, train, and support foster families in Winchester, Frederick County, Warren County, and Shenandoah County. Their shared mission is simple: keep children as close to home as possible during one of the most difficult times in their lives.

“We are housed at Winchester City DSS, but we work for Winchester, Frederick, Warren County, and Shenandoah County,” Pennington said. “Anytime any of the four localities get a call that a child has entered foster care, we then look at our list of certified foster families.”

The collaborative currently has 33 certified foster families serving the four localities. While that number helps meet some of the need, both coordinators say more families are urgently needed.

“Our main goal right now is any foster families that are eligible to take older teens or sibling groups,” Pennington said. “Sometimes a hiccup in the system itself is trying to keep our sibling groups together.”

Keeping children in their own communities can make an enormous difference after the trauma of removal from their homes.

“A removal in itself is traumatic for a child of any age,” Pennington said. “Being able to keep them close to their school, their family, to make that visitation schedule more feasible—anything that we can keep regulated or within normalcy—that’s the goal of our collaborative.”

Why Children Enter Foster Care

Smith explained there is no single reason children enter foster care.

“Sometimes it can be domestic violence; it can be substance use,” she said. “We’ve had families just come in, and they’re just like, abandon the child.”

Every placement is court-ordered, she noted.

“They all have to be court ordered for them to come into foster care.”

Kinship Care Comes First

Virginia law prioritizes placing children with relatives or trusted adults they already know whenever possible.

Smith explained that kinship care can include grandparents, aunts, uncles, or even “fictive kin”—trusted adults such as teachers, coaches, or neighbors who already have a relationship with the child.

“It’s great for children because they’re already being removed from their parents and now we’re trying to keep them with family, someone they know, they’re familiar with,” Smith said.

When relatives aren’t available, the collaborative relies on certified resource families who have completed the state’s approval process before accepting placements.

Who Can Become a Foster Parent?

One of the biggest misconceptions, Pennington said, is that foster parents must fit a certain mold.

“I think you hear a lot… it has to be a two-parent household, a giant house, one works from home, a stay-at-home mom,” she said. “I can’t tell you the number of families we have that are really looking different.”

Applicants must be at least 21 years old, but they do not have to be married or have children of their own.

“Single families, married couples, partners—we have two moms, two dads. Whatever your family makeup is, as long as you have a safe, stable, loving home.”

Financial wealth is also not the determining factor.

“There isn’t a set number that we’re looking for,” Pennington said. “What we look at… is can these families meet their own basic needs before we’re putting on the extra stress and liability of a child.”

Support for Foster Families

Virginia provides financial assistance to foster parents through maintenance payments based on the child’s age, as well as clothing allowances and other support services.

Smith added that families may also receive assistance with daycare when needed.

“The state helps the foster family out with the child,” she said.

Still, both coordinators stressed that fostering requires commitment beyond financial support.

“We get to clock out,” Pennington said of social workers. “They don’t.”

She noted that foster parents care for children around the clock while balancing school, medical appointments, visitations, court hearings, and everyday parenting.

The Goal Is Reunification

Although foster parents often form strong bonds with the children in their care, Pennington emphasized that the ultimate goal is helping families reunite whenever it is safe to do so.

“The main goal of our collaboration is reunification,” she said.

Foster care workers work closely with parents to address the issues that led to removal while foster families provide a safe, stable home.

Before children return home permanently, they often participate in trial home visits to help ensure a successful transition.

“Those Are Exactly the People We Need”

One concern prospective foster parents frequently express is becoming too emotionally attached to a child.

Smith believes that concern actually reflects the qualities children need most.

“People will say, ‘Oh, I don’t think I can foster because I would get too attached,'” she said. “But I always say those are exactly the people that we need because these kids need secure attachment when they’re away from their biological parent.”

She acknowledged that saying goodbye can be difficult.

“This kid has been through so much trauma. If we can do something to lessen that, and you have a heart for children… maybe it is your calling.”

Learn More Without Making a Commitment

Residents interested in fostering are encouraged to attend one of the collaborative’s monthly information sessions.

Pennington said. “Asking the questions that you want to ask.”

Attending an orientation does not obligate anyone to become a foster parent.

“It’s a time for you to decide, maybe,” she said.

How to Get Started

For more information about becoming a foster parent or attending an upcoming orientation session, visit:

Regional Foster Care Collaborative:
https://www.fosterfamiliesnsv.com

Register for an information session:
https://family-match.org

Those who register through Family Match will be contacted by Resource Program Coordinators Carlie Pennington or Cara Smith to schedule an upcoming orientation session.