Thank you Virginia Foster Families!
"FOSTER-FRIENDLY"
BUSINESS INITIATIVE
Empowering the community to be the solution for children, families and workers in Virginia's child welfare system
As part of a collaborative partnership, we are pleased to offer current foster families special benefits at foster-friendly businesses across Virginia.
Foster parents are helpers, healers, and heroes in ending the foster care crisis in Virginia. It is a rewarding and challenging role.
50% of foster families quit within the first year, often due to a lack of social support. This program is designed to support and encourage them.
WHY SUPPORT FOSTER FAMILIES?
VIRGINIA IS IN A FOSTER CARE CRISIS
500 KIDS EXIT FOSTER CARE EACH YEAR WITHOUT FAMILY
89% BECOME ADDICTED, HOMELESS, INCARCERATED, OR PREGNANT WITHIN 2 YEARS
EACH TEEN WHO "AGES OUT" WITHOUT A FAMILY COSTS TAXPAYERS $300,000 OVER EACH KID'S LIFETIME
THERE IS A DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM AND LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY
THE RESULTS ARE BLEAK AND THE NEGATIVE IMPACT STRETCHES ACROSS ALL OF VIRGINIA
THIS CRISIS IS SOLVABLE,
BUT WE HAVE TO ACT NOW
A 2018 VA GOVERNMENT AUDIT REVEALED SERIOUS ISSUES IN VIRGINIA'S FOSTER CARE SYSTEM AND CALLED FOR IMMEDIATE CORRECTIVE ACTION.​
IN 2020, FEDERAL LEGISLATION MOVES FUNDING
FROM GROUP HOMES TO FOSTER HOMES, MEANING A DIRE NEED FOR MORE FOSTER FAMILIES NOW.​
WE HAVE WILLING PARTNERS IN EACH SPHERE - GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS, FAITH, & CREATIVE - WHO ARE READY AND EAGER TO SOLVE THIS CRISIS NOW.
CURRENT FOSTER FRIENDLY BUSINESSES
ARE YOU A BUSINESS OWNER?
Support your community, your employees, and Virginia's most vulnerable children.
WANT TO NOMINATE A BUSINESS?
get your most-loved groups involved!
ARE YOU CURRENTLY FOSTERING?
WAYS TO GET INVOLVED
IMPACT YOUR EMPLOYEES
Update your company's HR package to include foster-friendly policies that encourage fostering and adopting.
IMPACT THE COMMUNITY
Be a Foster-Friendly Business by offering rewards and discounts to children and families in foster care.
IMPACT THE FUTURE
Tailor your employee hiring opportunities towards teens/young people who have aged out of foster care.
IMPACT YOUR PEERS
Give other socially-conscious business leaders the opportunity to help end one of Virginia's worst social crises by spreading the word about this mission.
IMPACT THE CHILDREN
Help us help kids. Become a financial support to Virginia's Kids Belong, the nonprofit partner of this initiative.
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IMPACT your way
We have had many unique offers, such as a financial institution offering to teach free financial literacy classes to birth families. Have a unique idea for impact? Contact us!
