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Extra Special Parents Extra Special Parents is an innovative agency that provides treatment foster care, adoption services and community based services in Virginia

September is National Kinship Care Month, but for us at Extra Special Parents, kinship care isn't simply something we'll...
01/09/2026

September is National Kinship Care Month, but for us at Extra Special Parents, kinship care isn't simply something we'll be talking about for the next 30 days.

It's an important part of how we think about supporting children and families.

Kinship care can begin when a grandparent, relative or close family friend steps forward to care for a child who can't safely remain with their parents. Sometimes that decision is planned. Often, circumstances change very quickly and someone finds themselves taking on a parenting role they never expected.

Knowing and loving a child already can be an enormous strength. But it doesn't mean the transition is simple.

Kinship caregivers can find themselves learning about new systems, managing changing family relationships and helping a child through their own emotions, all while adjusting their everyday lives around a new reality.

Throughout September, we'll be talking about kinship care from all of those perspectives.

We'll celebrate the families who step forward, but we'll also talk about what happens after they do.

Because saying yes to a child shouldn't mean having to figure everything else out alone.

Follow us throughout National Kinship Care Month as we continue the conversation.

Some foster parents spend months preparing for the role.Kinship caregivers can find themselves stepping into it almost o...
27/08/2026

Some foster parents spend months preparing for the role.

Kinship caregivers can find themselves stepping into it almost overnight.

A grandchild, niece, nephew or another child they already know suddenly needs them, and the first instinct is often simply, "Of course they'll come to us."

Then reality catches up.

School. Appointments. Paperwork. Training. Family relationships. Behaviors they may not understand yet. A child dealing with everything that has happened while the caregiver is processing it too.

Knowing and loving a child before they come to live with you doesn't automatically make any of that easy.

That's why kinship families need proper support around them, not an assumption that because they're family they'll work everything out.

September is National Kinship Care Month, and over the coming weeks we'll be sharing more about kinship care and the families who step forward when children need them.

If that's your family, we see the work you're doing.

Sometimes fostering begins very differently from the journey people imagine.There isn't months of wondering whether to b...
26/08/2026

Sometimes fostering begins very differently from the journey people imagine.

There isn't months of wondering whether to become a caregiver. There isn't necessarily time to research everything first.

Sometimes someone you already know and love needs you.

Kinship caregivers can be grandparents, relatives or other adults who already have an important relationship with a child. They step into a parenting role when that child can't safely remain with their parents.

That existing relationship can be incredibly valuable for a child, but it doesn't mean the transition is easy for the adults involved.

Kinship families need information, training, practical help and people they can turn to just as other foster families do.

As we head towards National Kinship Care Month in September, we'll be talking more about these families, including the people who may never have planned to foster but stepped forward when a child they knew needed them.

At ESP, we believe those families deserve to feel supported too.

When someone contacts ESP about fostering, we're not looking for a family who can say yes to everything.We're interested...
20/08/2026

When someone contacts ESP about fostering, we're not looking for a family who can say yes to everything.

We're interested in getting to know them.

What does everyday life look like in their home? What experience do they have? What ages do they feel comfortable with? What support network surrounds them? Where are their strengths, and where might they need more preparation?

Those conversations matter because matching isn't simply about finding an empty bedroom.

It's about understanding both the child and the family well enough to make thoughtful decisions about whether a placement has the foundations it needs to work.

Sometimes prospective foster parents begin the process imagining one type of fostering and discover through training and conversation that their strengths lie somewhere completely different.

That's part of the journey too.

If you've wondered where you might fit into fostering, we're always happy to have that first conversation.

We tell our foster families something we genuinely mean: please don't wait until things reach breaking point before you ...
18/08/2026

We tell our foster families something we genuinely mean: please don't wait until things reach breaking point before you call us.

There will be hard days.

There may be behaviours you weren't expecting, difficult school weeks, complicated emotions or moments when you simply aren't sure what to do next.

That's when we want to hear from you.

Support shouldn't only appear when there's a crisis. It should be part of everyday fostering, with people who know your family, understand the placement and can help you work out what comes next.

At ESP, asking for help isn't viewed as a sign that you're failing.

It's part of working as a team around a child.

Sometimes one conversation is enough. Sometimes a family needs more. Either way, we'd much rather have that conversation early.

"How can I foster a child and then let them go?"It's an honest question, and one we understand.Foster parents aren't exp...
18/08/2026

"How can I foster a child and then let them go?"

It's an honest question, and one we understand.

Foster parents aren't expected to care less so saying goodbye hurts less. We want children to experience genuine relationships with adults who care about them.

But foster care is often temporary. When it is safe for a child to return to their family, reunification can be a successful outcome.

That doesn't make saying goodbye easy.

At ESP, our job includes preparing families for this part of fostering and supporting them through the emotions that come with it.

Fostering takes a particular kind of courage. Sometimes you love a child fiercely, help them through a difficult chapter and then support them as they move into the next one.

If you have questions about reunification or any other part of becoming a foster parent, our team will always give you an honest answer.

Fostering a child means welcoming much more than one person into your life.Children bring their history with them. They ...
14/08/2026

Fostering a child means welcoming much more than one person into your life.

Children bring their history with them. They may have siblings they miss, family members they love, traditions that matter to them and relationships they want to keep.

At ESP, we help foster families understand the importance of those connections and how to support them when it is safe and appropriate to do so.

That can sometimes feel complicated. Foster parents can care deeply for a child while also recognising that the child's existing relationships and identity matter.

You don't have to navigate those complexities alone. They are exactly the kind of conversations our team is here to help families work through.

If you're considering fostering with ESP, talk to us about what the role really looks like.

www.espva.org

One of the first things we tell prospective foster parents is this.No two placements are ever the same.Every child is un...
06/08/2026

One of the first things we tell prospective foster parents is this.

No two placements are ever the same.

Every child is unique, and every journey is different.

That's why training, ongoing support and open communication are so important.

Our role is to help foster parents understand children's individual needs and feel confident adapting as those needs change.

You don't have to have all the answers.

You simply need the willingness to keep learning.

Ready to learn more? We'd love to talk with you.

www.espva.org

At ESP, we often remind new foster parents of one important thing.You are never expected to do this alone.From your lice...
04/08/2026

At ESP, we often remind new foster parents of one important thing.

You are never expected to do this alone.

From your licensing worker to your family consultant and the wider support team, we're here to answer questions, celebrate successes and help navigate challenges.

The relationship doesn't begin when you're licensed.

It continues throughout your fostering journey.

Thinking about fostering? Let's start the conversation.

www.espva.org

Many prospective foster parents worry they won't know the "right" thing to do.The truth is, much of fostering is built a...
30/07/2026

Many prospective foster parents worry they won't know the "right" thing to do.

The truth is, much of fostering is built around everyday care.

Our team helps families understand how routines, consistency and patience create the stability children need.

You won't be expected to know everything on day one.

That's why we're here.

From training through placement, you'll always have people ready to guide and support you.

Have questions about becoming a foster parent? We'd love to hear from you.

www.espva.org

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