Become a Foster Parent in Virginia
Becoming a foster parent in Virginia is one of the most meaningful ways to support children and youth who need stability, safety, and guidance. Foster parents provide temporary homes for children who cannot safely remain with their families while child welfare professionals work toward reunification or another permanent solution.
At Intercept Health Treatment Foster Care (TFC), we work with dedicated individuals and families who want to make a difference in the lives of youth who need additional structure, support, and therapeutic care. Our team provides training, ongoing guidance, and 24/7 support to ensure foster parents feel confident and prepared.
Minimum Age: 21
Time to certification: about 3 to 6 months
Training: Pressley Ridge pre-service training
Support: a dedicated case manager and 24/7 on-call help
Offices: 10 locations across Virginia
What Is Treatment Foster Care?
Treatment Foster Care is a specialized form of foster care designed for youth who may have experienced trauma, behavioral challenges, or emotional difficulties. These children benefit from living in a structured home environment with foster parents who receive specialized training and professional support.
Treatment foster parents work closely with case managers, therapists, and other professionals to help youth develop life skills, emotional regulation, and healthy relationships.
Intercept Health’s Treatment Foster Care program provides foster parents with the tools and resources they need to help youth build stability and long-term success.
Wondering how this differs from traditional foster care?
Requirements to Become a Foster Parent in Virginia
Virginia has specific requirements for individuals who want to become foster parents. These guidelines help ensure that children are placed in safe, stable, and supportive homes.
To become a foster parent in Virginia, you must:
Be at least 21 and live in Virginia
Provide a safe, stable home with space for a child
Be married or single (not living with a partner you aren't married to)
Be financially stable without relying on state assistance
Pass background and child abuse checks, along with every adult in your home
Complete foster parent training and a home study
You'll also need a physical exam, personal references, a valid driver's license and an insured vehicle. Foster parents are reimbursed for the costs of a child's care. Not sure your situation fits? Start the qualification form and your local team will talk it through with you.
How to Become a
Foster Parent in Virginia
Becoming a foster parent with Intercept Health involves a step-by-step process designed to prepare you to provide a safe, supportive home for a child or youth in foster care. Our team will guide you through each stage, from your initial inquiry through training, the home study, and certification.
01
Submit the Qualification Form
The first step is completing an inquiry or qualification form. This allows the Intercept Health team to learn more about your interest in becoming a foster parent and answer any initial questions.
Tell us a little about yourself and your interest in fostering. Your local team will follow up, answer your questions and invite you to an orientation, usually within one to two weeks.
02
Meet Our Team and Apply
After submitting an inquiry, you will meet with members of our Treatment Foster Care team. This meeting provides an opportunity to learn more about the program and determine if fostering is the right fit for you.
At an information session, learn how treatment foster care works and what the commitment looks like. Then complete your application and meet at your local office to review documents such as background checks, medical records, references and income verification. This usually takes two to four weeks.
03
Complete Foster Parent Training
Training helps foster parents develop the knowledge and skills needed to support youth with emotional and behavioral challenges. Training topics often include trauma-informed care, behavior management strategies, and communication techniques.
Through Pressley Ridge training, you’ll learn trauma-informed care, how to manage challenging behaviors, communication skills and how to work with a child’s therapy team.
04
Home Study and Certification
A home study process evaluates your home environment, background, and readiness to become a foster parent. Once the home study and training requirements are completed, you may become certified as a treatment foster parent.
A social worker visits your home and interviews your family, usually over one to three months, often while you’re still in training. You’ll also complete the Intent to Foster assessment, so we can match you with a child whose needs fit your family. Certification usually follows within one to two weeks of finishing everything.
See upcoming information sessions or the full foster parent timeline.
Support for Foster Parents
Intercept Health believes foster parents should never feel alone in the fostering journey. Our Treatment Foster Care program provides ongoing support to help foster families succeed.
Support may include:
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Dedicated case managers with regular check-ins
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24/7 on-call support
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Ongoing training opportunities
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Access to mental health professionals and your child's therapy team
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Guidance for addressing behavioral challenges
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Reimbursement for the costs of a child's care
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A community of Intercept foster parents
Our goal is to help foster parents feel confident and supported as they provide care for youth in need.
How Long Does It Take?
Most families complete the process in about 3 to 6 months. Timing depends on how quickly paperwork comes back, when training sessions are offered and how soon home study visits can be scheduled. See the full foster parent timeline.
Training, the home study and paperwork can all happen at the same time, which keeps the overall process shorter.
Preparing Yourself and Your Family
Fostering asks a lot emotionally. Before you begin, think about how you'll respond on a child's hardest days and how you'll feel if a child returns home. Line up support from family, friends and other foster parents, and talk with everyone in your household about what will change. These guides can help:
Frequently Asked Questions
Treatment Foster Care Locations in Virginia
Intercept Health provides Treatment Foster Care services across multiple locations throughout Virginia. Our teams work with foster families across the state to support youth in need of safe and stable homes.
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Learn More About Becoming a Foster Parent
If you are interested in becoming a foster parent in Virginia, Intercept Health is here to help guide you through the process.
Learn how Treatment Foster Care differs from traditional foster care.
Start Your Journey as a Foster Parent
If you are interested in becoming a foster parent in Virginia, Intercept Health is here to help guide you through the process.
Our team can answer your questions, explain the certification process, and help you determine if treatment foster care is the right opportunity for you.
By opening your home, you can provide stability, encouragement, and hope to a child who needs it most.