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Richmond, VA (PRWEB) August 10, 2021 Youth at United Methodist Family Services (UMFS) who reside at the Child & Family Healing Center will soon receive ....
Chesterfield foster mom urges you to learn about fostering amid decline in inquiries An analysis from United Methodist Family Services of Virginia showed inquiries to be down by 30% in the past six months, compared to the same time 2020. and last updated 2021-05-25 00:34:05-04 CHESTERFIELD, Va. A Richmond foster care service urged people interested in fostering to reach out as the organization reported a sharp decline in the number of inquiries amid the pandemic. An analysis from United Methodist Family Services of Virginia showed inquiries to be down by 30% in the past six months, compared to the same time 2020. ....
Saoirse Lee reports When parents die or lose custody of their kids, courts in Virginia usually turn to the foster care system – placing children with strangers. In most other states, judges check first with extended family – awarding custody to aunts or uncles, grandparents or cousins. That’s the case for about a third of children nationwide, but in Virginia the number is just 6% the lowest of any state. At Methodist Family Services in Richmond, Nancy Toscano wants to change that. “The best way to imagine the benefits is to think of yourself as a child, Tosacano says. They’re removed from their parents perhaps, either abuse, neglect - maybe it’s a death or imprisonment, or some really trying circumstance. When a child goes into kinship care, that trauma is diminished because they are going with somebody that they know.” ....
Pandemic Wears on Foster Children and Parents As with most families, the stress and seclusion of the pandemic is wearing on foster children and parents, with some restrictions creating potentially traumatic experiences. (Photo: Clara Haizlett reported this story At the start of the pandemic, it was uncertain how the foster care system would be affected, but the impact is becoming more evident as the year comes to a close. The Virginia Department of Social Services estimates there are currently over 5,000 children in the state’s foster care system and over 6,500 approved foster and adoptive families. This year, the agency saw the number of adoptions grow to the second highest on record since 2016. ....