Foster parents can be incredibly important in the lives of children that need them. As of May 2022, Orange County currently has 26 children under the age of 18 in foster care. An additional five young adults over the age of 18 participate in Fostering Futures. Young adults participating in Fostering Futures have “ aged out, ” (turned 18 while still in foster care), and continue to receive guidance and support from OCDSS until they are 21 years old. Orange County Social Services is in need of additional individuals and families who are willing to provide foster homes for children in need. There are times when children are placed in homes outside of their community due to a lack of local certified foster homes. To encourage the best outcomes, it is typically preferable for children to continue to reside within their own community when in foster care. Foster care is intended to be a temporary, rather than a long - term solution, for children who have been removed from their birth family homes for reasons of neglect, abuse, abandonment, or other issues endangering their health and safety. Every effort is made to help the child remain with his or her family, however, when a child comes into foster care they are most often placed in a foster home. The foster family works as a team with the local
Ray Matthews, a local private pilot, explained the basics of flight to children during the Foster Parent Appreciation and Training Event.
department of social services, the biological family, the child (when applicable), and any additional community partners. The temporary and complex nature of foster care places special demands on foster parents. They are asked to take someone else's child into their home, care for the child and treat the child as a member of their family. It is essential that foster parents understand and are willing to meet the physical and emotional needs of children within the context of their culture. The foster care program provides the necessary support and training to enable foster parents to provide daily care and supervision for the child in care. New and prospective foster families can visit the Virginia Department of Social Services site, www.FosterVa.com. This site helps demystify the foster care experience by providing example stories of those who have participated, as well as direct access to foster care facts. Consider becoming a foster parent and making a difference in a child ’ s life today. Those interested in learning more about becoming a foster parent should reach out to Vicky Tidman, Family Services Specialist with the Orange County Department of Social Services, at (540) 672 - 1155.
Family Services Specialist, Vicky Tidman presents a token of appreciation to foster parents at the Foster Parent Appreciation event at Orange County Airport.
Page 6 | May, 2022
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