“This funding will help identify relatives or fictive kin earlier, either at the time of entry into foster care or before a child enters foster care,” said Nina Marino, Vice President, Program Innovation & External Affairs at UMFS. “We know that if we can place a child with a relative as their first placement, they are less likely to disrupt from that home or need more intensive out-of-home placements down the road—leading to less trauma for the child.”
As an agency committed to kinship care, UMFS sees every day the difference that familiar, stable placements can make.
“By investing in kinship care, we are investing in the well-being and future of our children,” said Nancy Toscano, UMFS President and CEO. “Ensuring they grow up in safe and supportive environments where they feel they belong can make a tremendous difference.”
Why Kinship Care Matters
Research shows that children placed with kin or fictive kin experience:
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Reduced trauma
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Fewer behavioral challenges
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Greater social and emotional wellbeing
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Higher rates of long-term permanency
In fact, 97% of children placed with kin ultimately achieve permanency with a family member. These outcomes also reduce strain on the traditional foster care system and help improve care rankings statewide.
What’s Next
This new funding will allow the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) to expand their efforts to ensure all children entering foster care are promptly connected to family-finding services. It’s a critical step toward keeping children close to the people who know and love them.
UMFS remains committed to ensuring every child has the opportunity to grow up in a safe, loving, and familiar environment.
Learn more about the amendment: budget.lis.virginia.gov/amendment/2025/1/HB1600/Introduced/CR/329/3c/