THANK YOU FOR CARING ABOUT CHILDREN!!!

 Foster parents and foster to adopt parents are desperately needed!

My name is Ralph Berry and I am the Foster Parent Trainer for Children's Services of Virginia. I am happy to answer your questions and tell you more about our program.

Prospective foster parents receive extensive training from CSV. We begin with a two hour information session where we answer the 25 most common questions foster parents have. There is no wrong question to ask!

All medical and dental expenses of the foster child are provided for and foster families receive a monthly reimbursement.

Families may choose the age, gender and number of children they wish to work with.

CSV foster care workers visit the foster home at least twice every 30 days and have at least weekly phone contact with families to answer questions and provide assistance. Our case managers provide a high level of support to our families!

You may be single or married but must be at least 21 years of age to become a foster parent.

The biological family of the foster child is not given the foster parents name, address and phone number. They will not visit the child at your home.

Foster to adopt families are also desperately needed!

We would like to send you information and invite you to an information session at our Winchester , Harrisonburg , Manassas or Culpeper offices. There is no obligation when you call or attend. Please call me at (540) 801-0900 ( Harrisonburg ) or call our toll free number at 888-380-4434. You can also email me your name, address and phone number(s) and I will be in touch with you soon. My email is ralphberry@csv-inc.com

Children's Services of Virginia, Inc. has over 90 licensed treatment foster care families. Among other requirements, the approval process for families includes a completed application, letters of reference, criminal records and child abuse background checks, training, and home study.

Testimonials

Real life experiences in the words of our foster families

"It’s all about love and acceptance, nurturing, and boundaries, caring enough to hang in there … it’s about FAMILY — a sense of belonging, laughter, hope and truth. We cherish and appreciate every child and always look forward to welcoming new ones into our home. The reward comes when past suffering fades and the child begins to blossom into a new life with a brighter future."

P. and J.O., Jeffersonton, VA

"We have grown through foster parenting. Through our experience, we have enjoyed watching each child grow, play, and experience life in a loving setting. Just to see what a little love, nurturing, and acceptance can do for a child, the rewards are endless. We couldn’t imagine it any other way. Being a foster parent has sacrifices, but the rewards we get back are tremendous. For us, there is no greater joy, than being able to put a smile on a child’s face where once there were tears."

R. & A. T., Manassas, VA

"Foster care in its undertaking is a mission field to reach out and touch the soul of a child. When I met each of my three foster boys, I was confronting them at the crossroads of their lives. They knew how to define hurt, pain, and disappointment with precise meaning. I was able to share those devastating setbacks with them and come up with a game plan based upon devoted time and unconditional love. I relish the fact that, as a foster parent, I could be that light in the unpredicted world of a child of God. Children’s Services of Virginia has given me the privilege of putting into motion the wheels of opportunity to help develop personal worth and dignity in the lives of foster children."

R. O., Winchester, VA

"Being a foster parent is gratifying when you can see the change in a child's life that you may have played a small part in-and the trust that you gain by showing them that you love and care for them and that you will not desert them no matter what.
The joy of being a foster parent is when you hear a child call you mom or dad for the first time. Or when a smile comes to your face when you see a child light up like a Christmas tree because he got that special gift he wanted so badly. There are also times when you feel that you just can't do it anymore, when your child is disrespectful or disobedient, and your friends and family are asking why do you continue being a foster parent. That's the time when you can say "Because we love them!"-and that will never end."

E. & R. E., Winchester, VA

"My wife and I took on the position of foster parenting after considerable prayer and thought. I was called by God first and then my wife was called, too. Our first child is a boy who has been here for almost one year. Though we have had some hard times, for the most part things are good. Being a foster parent is a job that needs much attention, patience, and love-but is rewarding when, with God's grace and love, you can change the lives of troubled kids."

L. & A. F., Fort Valley, VA