About Us
The Virginia Department of Social Services has provided the financial support to establish the Association, in an effort to support foster, adoptive, and kinship parents throughout the Commonwealth. In February 2006 The Puckett Institute was contracted to facilitate this process. Through statewide efforts including public forums and meetings with key stakeholders, information was gathered about the needs, values and concerns facing foster, adoptive and kinship families. Thereafter, key representatives came together for a planning retreat to build the foundation for the development of FACES of Virginia Families.
During our development retreat the following Mission, Goals and Principles were established as the guiding force of the Association:
Our mission is to provide a united voice for children, youth, and families involved in foster, adoptive, and kinship care so all children and youth are treated with dignity, respect, and equality.
The Goals of the Association are to:
- Support the recruitment and retention of quality foster, adoptive, and
kinship families. - Advocate for and provide consistent and standardized training and
support for foster, adoptive, and kinship families. - Provide resources and information to parents, empowering them to be
educated, equipped, and effective. - Advocate for the needs of foster, adoptive, and kinship families.
- Promote and strengthen collaborations among all professionals, including caregivers.
- Become a sustainable, independent, membership-run organization.
The Principles* of the Association are:
- We advocate for services and systems that are fair, responsive, and
accountable to foster, adoptive, and kinship families, children, and youth in Virginia. - We work in collaborative relationships based on equality and respect.
- Our work focuses on the growth and development of all family members - adults, youth, and children.
- We affirm and strengthen children, youth, and families - cultural, racial, and linguistic identities and work to enhance their ability to function in a multicultural society.
- We believe that state and local services and systems should be child and family-centered.
- We believe that community programs and systems need to be flexible, responsive, and based on evidence-based best practices.
- Our work strives to maximize the permanence and continuity of relationships for children.
- We advocate for children, youth and families to be actively involved in the decisions that impact them.
*Adapted from “Principles of Family-Supportive Foster Care” by Family Support America (2000) and “Clinical Models and Principles” by Casey Family Services (2004).
The FACES Charter Board has been meeting regularly since October 2006 to develop structures that will ensure a solid and successful association, including the crafting of a business plan, bylaws, a policy platform, and pursuance of 501(c)(3) status.
The first annual meeting of FACES of Virginia Families took place at the National Foster Parent Association (NFPA) conference in May 2007. FACES is pleased to have the support of Virginia’s First Lady, Anne Holton, and is working collaboratively with CRAFFT and the Virginia Youth Advisory Council to support Foster, Adoptive and Kinship Families in Virginia.
Visit our Join FACES page to learn what FACES is doing in your region by connecting with your Regional Representative.
Visit our News/Events page to get updates on relevant issues and/or events across the state.