Family Engagement - Henrico County, Virginia

Henrico County’s Family Engagement Program focuses on maximizing the voice, engagement and supports of families who become involved with the child welfare system. Through initiatives like Family Finding and Family Partnership Meetings, we work to ensure that our families play a pivotal role in the planning and decision making for themselves and their loved ones.

Family Finding is process where families are explored for supports, short-term or long-term placement options for children to help address safety concerns and/or avoid foster care. Through this process we can also explore relatives or natural supports of families for people that might be able to become certified foster parents. This allows children who enter foster care to remain with their family and those familiar to them.

Family Partnership Meetings are collaborative decision-making meetings where families come together with the Department, service providers and other entities involved with families such as school counselors, attorneys, Guardian Ad-Litems (GALs), probation officers, etc. During these meetings there are discussions around the family’s strengths and supports, any needs and concerns, and a plan of care for the children moving forward. These meetings are facilitated by a member of our family engagement team to help support the group through difficult conversations.