FOSTER CARE

Social workers say having kids close is better for them and their families.

“A grown up is supposed to take care of you, help you, just be there for you.”

Keeping social workers is a challenge across Virginia. There’s a lot of turnover at many department of social services offices.

“I want to be in a family really, really bad and I just want to be supported through my future,” said Lily.

“I love the farm life,” said the 14-year-old.

She wants a family who will love her and encourage her.

He wants parents that are, “active with me, going out to places, getting ice cream and doing stuff.”

What Malachi really hopes for is a dad – a strong, consistent, and loving male figure– but he also has an open heart to having a mom.

Lynchburg and Roanoke County are also in the top 10 locations for the most kids in foster care.

The teen loves being outside, school, cooking and hanging out with friends.

She’s an excellent student with big goals of going to UVA and medical school.

"I’ve never really had someone caring for me growing up so I would like to have that, have a mother figure and a father figure.”

“A big ‘wish’ for me is to finally find the right family for me.”

Starting Friday, the Montgomery County Department of Social Services is taking donations for New River Valley kids in foster care.

He’s looking for a family to have fun with him!

“All I’ve ever wanted was a normal life. Just living in a normal house, normal neighborhood.”

Her dream day would just include “having a good day and being happy.”

“I want to belong in a family because I just want to be cared for.”

An exciting update on one of the very first kids we showed you the year we started 30 Days of Hope in 2017.

“My goal is to be a construction worker when I grow up”

He eventually wants to be a firefighter so he can save people.

“I just want to belong in a family because I wasn’t treated right in my family.”

“Everyone deserves happiness and a family and I feel like it’s my turn”

He loves to be outdoors more than anything.

Savannah is a hard worker and has great determination to see projects through.

“I feel like everyone should belong to a family.”

She is smart and excited to find a family where she fits in.

Great Expectations helps students navigate financial aid, class schedules, and much more.

Eliza has a huge heart and is very kind and caring.

Michael is 16-years-old and wants to be a police officer or in the military.

His smile is infectious. James enjoys playing outside, he likes the fresh air.

He wants a home filled with love and often talks about wanting to have a family.

“They deserve an opportunity to have a normal home life just like any other youth of any age.”

Harmony believes in being nice to others and giving them respect.

Cost, marital status and more answered.

CASA of Children's Trust in Roanoke is recruiting volunteers to help look out for the best interests of abused and neglected children in foster care.

The HopeTree event raises money to support families across Virginia with mental and behavioral health services.

Roanoke City has the highest number of children in care at 250 children – 5% of the total number across the Commonwealth, as of May of this year.

Attorney argues a report from the Commonwealth should be part of her case, and make a difference in getting her kids back.

10 News uncovered seven different investigations – some with serious findings.

In Virginia, kids are in crisis and put into foster care due to no fault of their own. But they have an advocate. 10 News Anchor Jenna Zibton works tirelessly all year long investigating the challenges the foster care system faces and revealing the solutions so all of us can help. You’ve seen the stories during the WSLS 10 Kids in Crisis series and 30 Days of Hope, where we profile one child who needs a home every day during the month of November.

We showed you the stories of 35 children in November, just some of the more than 700 who can be adopted.

He enjoys Vietnamese food and culture and it’s something he would like to keep.

“Foster care has given me a real dad and saved me from a dark road.”

She is compassionate and wants to study to be a psychologist or criminologist.

Since CarePortal launched in Central Virginia in 2020, they’ve served served more than 3,000 children with an economic impact of $1.3 million.

If he had three wishes they would include, “To have a nice family, have fun and be kind to one another.”

The teen wants to be a construction worker when he grows up.

These four siblings want to stay together when they’re adopted.

“I’ll actually be loved and I won’t have to worry about going placement to placement,” said Maddie.

“Family is very important to him. He’s missed his family for a very long time and he’s at the stage of life where he’s really looking for it.”

“I would like a family who is super accepting of who I am,” said Axle.

“Being in a family to me means that there’s trust, communication and reliability,” said the 16-year-old.

“In his heart of hearts, he is a 12-year-old kid just looking for a place to belong.”

She is very open to learning new things and having new experiences with a family, particularly traveling.

Lilly has been in foster care since she was 6 years old, and what she wants more than anything is to find a forever family to call her own.

“I want to belong in a family because sometimes you just need somebody to call.”

Since CarePortal launched in Central Virginia in 2020, they’ve served served more than 3,000 children with an economic impact of $1.3 million.

The 17-year-old wants a family to call her own and help her reach her full potential.

We featured him during 30 Days of Hope in 2021 and he’s still looking for a family.

The teen is looking forward to having a forever family who supports his dreams of attending Virginia Tech or George Mason for game design.

“Some of my goals are graduating high school, getting out of the facility that I’m at, and live a normal life.”

Jeremiah is hopeful about adoption and finding a forever family that he can trust and depend on

Tino has a childlike wonder that makes him incredibly special.

I’m going to get adopted with a good family,” he said.

The middle schooler needs an energetic family who will take her to sporting events and do things outside because she’s so active.

The 12-year-old likes making her own slime, playing games and being outside.

He wants to do things with a family like play basketball or eat dinner together and talk.

These three siblings will melt your heart! They look forward to finding a family and moving on to happier times together.

The newly renovated cottage at HopeTree Family Services will be able to house at least eight children at a time who have are in foster care.

It’s putting a big strain on social workers and taxpayers.

The teen has been in foster care since the age of four, and is looking for a family of his own!

“I want to be a horse trainer. My favorite animal is a horse,” she said.

The 13-year-old is adventurous and is always willing to try new things.

“If I had any wish in the world, it would probably be to have a nice family.”

Kyle loves being outside so much, he wishes the sun would never go down.

Bentley loves telling jokes and has a great sense of humor and a big smile.

Cody has a loving heart and a fantastic sense of humor.

The 13-year-old loves animals and wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up.

The 15-year-old hopes to find a home filled with love.

Having a mom is the most important thing for Erica and she loves younger kids too.

Montgomery Co. says they're seeing more kids coming into foster care because of abuse, neglect, drug use, domestic violence and missing too many days of school and being reported for truancy.

Foster Care: Kids in Crisis is a 10 News investigation looking into several aspects of the Virginia foster care system

Foster Care: Kids in Crisis is a 10 News investigation looking into several aspects of the Virginia foster care system

Foster Care: Kids in Crisis is a 10 News investigation looking into several aspects of the Virginia foster care system

One group in LynchburOne group in Lynchburg broke ground on a new home Tuesday by applying a fresh coat of paint to the front door, symbolizing a fresh start on an old home, and maybe no one was more excited to pick up a paintbrush than Dana Guenther.g broke ground on a new home Tuesday, by applying a fresh coat of paint to the front door, symbolizing a fresh start on an old home.

Foster Care: Kids in Crisis is a 10 News investigation looking into several aspects of the Virginia foster care system

Thousands of children are being diverted from foster care, sent to live with family or friends, without the proper background checks

Foster Care: Kids in Crisis is a 10 News investigation looking into several aspects of the Virginia foster care system

There are about 4,900 kids in foster care across Virginia right now and more than 400,000 across the country.

Foster Care: Kids in Crisis is a 10 News investigation looking into several aspects of the Virginia foster care system.

Foster Care: Kids in Crisis is a 10 News investigation looking into several aspects of the Virginia foster care system.

Office will review and investigate if needed, talking to the agency about what can be done differently

Legislation that’s only been used a few times in Virginia is to thank for reuniting a mother and daughter who spent years apart.

Funds raised will help the group build a fully furnished home where children awaiting foster care can go temporarily, rather than wait at the Department of Social Services.

“Over half of the adoptions in Virginia last year for our foster children came from this viewing area”

Three children now have a permanent family, after being adopted by loving parents who were inspired by our 30 Days of Hope initiative.

The teen has a high level of respect for authority figures and wants to be an officer or in the military