Call Us:

  • Home
  • Foster Care 101
  • About
  • Events
  • Partner
  • Home
  • Foster Care 101
  • About
  • Events
  • Partner
Get Started

Foster Care 101

Your Complete Guide to Becoming a Foster Parent with JBRI

Blue and white watercolor gradient background design.
Navigate
what is foster care

01. what is foster care?

Understanding Foster Care: Providing Safety, Stability, and Hope

Foster care is a temporary living arrangement for children and teenagers who cannot safely remain in their birth families. It’s a vital service that provides a nurturing and supportive home environment for children in need, offering them a chance to heal, grow, and thrive.

As a foster parent, you open your heart and home to a child, becoming a positive and consistent presence in their life. You provide day-to-day care, guidance, and emotional support, working as part of a team to ensure the child’s well-being.
Children in foster care come from diverse backgrounds and may range in age from infants to teenagers. They enter foster care for various reasons, often due to situations like neglect, abuse, or parental challenges.

The primary goal of foster care is often reunification with the child’s biological family, when safe and appropriate. In other cases, foster care may provide a long-term stable home until permanency is achieved through adoption or other means.

JBRI Foster Care is dedicated to providing high-quality treatment foster care, focusing on children with behavioral and emotional challenges. We offer comprehensive support to our foster parents to help them successfully care for these vulnerable children and teens.

02. Why Foster Through JBRI

Why Foster Through JBRI? Experience Unmatched Support and Resources

Watercolor illustration of a clock showing 9:10 with Roman numerals
24/7 Case Worker Support

We understand that foster parenting can be demanding, and you’re never alone. JBRI provides 24-hour, 7-day-a-week access to your dedicated case worker. Whether you have a question in the middle of the night or need immediate guidance, our experienced team is just a phone call away, ready to offer support and practical solutions.

Watercolor illustration of a tree with golden yellow leaves
Access the resources of The Barry Robinson Center

JBRI Foster Care is part of The James Barry-Robinson Institute, a renowned organization providing comprehensive behavioral healthcare services for children and families. As a JBRI foster parent, you and the children in your care have access to a wide range of resources, including counselors, physicians, dietitians, and other professional services, ensuring a holistic and integrated approach to well-being.

Watercolor illustration of a parent lovingly hugging a child
Lower Case Worker-to-Family Ratio

At JBRI, we believe in quality over quantity. We maintain a lower case worker-to-foster family ratio than many other agencies. This means you receive more personalized attention, more frequent check-ins, and more tailored support to meet your specific needs and the needs of the children in your care.

Open glowing book symbolizing knowledge and foster care stories
Comprehensive Training
JBRI utilizes the nationally recognized PRIDE (Parent Resources for Information, Development and Education) curriculum developed by the Child Welfare League of America. Our comprehensive initial and ongoing training program equips you with the essential knowledge, skills, and resources to confidently and effectively parent children in foster care.
conversation icon
Strong Community and Network
When you foster with JBRI, you become part of a caring and supportive community of fellow foster parents. Connect with others who understand the joys and challenges of foster parenting, share experiences, and build lasting relationships. JBRI fosters a collaborative and encouraging environment where you can thrive.
Watercolor illustration of a clock showing 9:10 with Roman numerals
24/7 Case Worker Support

We understand that foster parenting can be demanding, and you’re never alone. JBRI provides 24-hour, 7-day-a-week access to your dedicated case worker. Whether you have a question in the middle of the night or need immediate guidance, our experienced team is just a phone call away, ready to offer support and practical solutions.

Watercolor illustration of a tree with golden yellow leaves
Access the resources of The Barry Robinson Center

JBRI Foster Care is part of The James Barry-Robinson Institute, a renowned organization providing comprehensive behavioral healthcare services for children and families. As a JBRI foster parent, you and the children in your care have access to a wide range of resources, including counselors, physicians, dietitians, and other professional services, ensuring a holistic and integrated approach to well-being.

Watercolor illustration of a parent lovingly hugging a child
Lower Case Worker-to-Family Ratio

At JBRI, we believe in quality over quantity. We maintain a lower case worker-to-foster family ratio than many other agencies. This means you receive more personalized attention, more frequent check-ins, and more tailored support to meet your specific needs and the needs of the children in your care.

Open glowing book symbolizing knowledge and foster care stories
Comprehensive Training
JBRI utilizes the nationally recognized PRIDE (Parent Resources for Information, Development and Education) curriculum developed by the Child Welfare League of America. Our comprehensive initial and ongoing training program equips you with the essential knowledge, skills, and resources to confidently and effectively parent children in foster care.
conversation icon
Strong Community and Network
When you foster with JBRI, you become part of a caring and supportive community of fellow foster parents. Connect with others who understand the joys and challenges of foster parenting, share experiences, and build lasting relationships. JBRI fosters a collaborative and encouraging environment where you can thrive.
Open glowing book symbolizing knowledge and foster care stories
Comprehensive Training
JBRI utilizes the nationally recognized PRIDE (Parent Resources for Information, Development and Education) curriculum developed by the Child Welfare League of America. Our comprehensive initial and ongoing training program equips you with the essential knowledge, skills, and resources to confidently and effectively parent children in foster care.
conversation icon
Strong Community and Network
When you foster with JBRI, you become part of a caring and supportive community of fellow foster parents. Connect with others who understand the joys and challenges of foster parenting, share experiences, and build lasting relationships. JBRI fosters a collaborative and encouraging environment where you can thrive.
Donate Now
Get Started

03. Foster Parent Requirements

Do You Meet the Requirements?

The JBRI Treatment Foster Care program’s requirements are aligned with the Commonwealth of Virginia foster care requirements. We are looking for compassionate and patient individuals who desire to make a positive difference in a child’s life. Here are the basic requirements to become a JBRI foster parent:

  • Virginia Resident:

You must be a resident of Virginia. Our program primarily certifies foster parents in the Hampton Roads area, including Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Newport News, and Hampton.

  • Aged 25 or Older

You must be at least 25 years of age.

  • Room in Your Home:
You must have a spare bedroom or sufficient space in your home to comfortably accommodate at least one foster child. You can be a homeowner or renter.