Right now, more than 6,000 kids and teens in West Virginia are in foster care. Each one has a parent who’s facing tough challenges. Foster parents step in to give children and teens love, comfort and stability during this time, not to replace their families, but to support them until they can be together again. 

At KVC West Virginia, we know foster parents can’t do this alone. That’s why we’re here with training, 24/7 support and a team that truly cares. When foster parents feel supported, kids and teens can heal and grow while their parents work to safely reunite.

Kristi Ferrell, LSW, Director of Permanency

Get to Know the KVC Team Supporting Foster Parents

Anyone who has ever played a team sport knows this: You can’t win alone! So if you’re going to be a West Virginia foster parent, you might be wondering: Who will be on my team?

Your First Contact: Our Director of Permanency

Question: If I’m thinking about becoming a West Virginia foster parent, who will I talk to first?

Answer: It all starts with connecting with our Director of Permanency, Kristi Ferrell. Kristi has been with KVC for more than 30 years. She brings a true passion for supporting West Virginia foster parents!

As the first point of contact, Kristi is available to answer any questions. “We discuss the whole process of being a foster parent and what it looks like,” says Kristi. 

When you’re ready to take the next step, Kristi will connect you with your home finder. They’ve got you from there!

Home Finders

Question: Once I’m ready to become a foster parent, who will get me trained and certified?

Answer: Home finders prepare you for training and start those first home visits. Their goal is to help you understand requirements and complete a home study. But that’s just the beginning. 

Your home finder stays with you through training and certification, then provides continuous support alongside the youth’s case manager. 

“It’s a team effort,” explains Kristi. “There’s a lot of communication that goes on with case managers and home finders to build that support around the foster parent.”

Intake Coordinators

Question: I’m certified and ready to provide care! Who will connect me with the children and teens I might care for?

Answer: You’ll connect often with our intake coordinators. They’ll call you when a child, teen or sibling group needs a safe place to stay. They’ll share insights about the youth, including their talents, hobbies and the kinds of support that can help them thrive, so you can know if this connection feels right.

Many foster parents get to know their intake coordinator well because they talk often and work together to help youth.

Case Manager

Question: When a youth is in my care, who will support me and my family?

Answer: After you welcome a child, teen or sibling group into your home, a case manager will be by your side. They’ll be available to answer any questions you have, step in during hard times and connect you with resources that support the youth’s education, health and everyday life.

Therapists

Question: Who will support the youth in my care with their mental health? Who will make sure their emotional needs are cared for and give them counseling and therapy?

Answer: At KVC West Virginia, therapists can meet with children and teens right in their homes. They’ll help them work through tough experiences and start to feel better. We know foster care can be a big change, and sometimes youth need more support than you can give on your own… and that’s okay. Our team will step in, chat with you to understand what support is needed and make sure therapy and resources are in place so you and the youth both feel supported.

What Makes KVC West Virginia’s Foster Parent Support Team Unique

Question: What makes KVC West Virginia stand out compared to other child placing agencies (CPAs) in our area? 

Answer: We’ve got your back, no matter what comes up. Kristi told us she loves how our team connects with foster parents in real, meaningful ways while still giving them space when they need it.

How KVC West Virginia Supports Foster Parents

In addition to our team’s dedicated support, KVC West Virginia foster parents have numerous resources to help them care for the children placed in their home, and care for themselves, too!

Foster Parent Training

You don’t have to figure this out on your own. Along with our team’s support, you’ll have plenty of resources to help you care for youth in foster care… and to take care of yourself, too.

Before you welcome a child, teen or sibling group into your home, you’ll go through trauma-informed training. It happens once a week for ten weeks, with morning or evening sessions so it’s easier to fit into your schedule.

In training, you’ll learn about:

• What foster care is really like and what to expect
  Safe sleep practices
• CPR and first aid
• How to handle tough situations or crises
• Parenting standards
• How to partner with KVC and use the resources available to you

And learning doesn’t stop after those first ten weeks. We’ll continue to share tools and support as you grow in your role as a foster parent. It’s normal to feel nervous when you get your first call about a child, teen or sibling group who needs a safe place to stay. That’s why your case manager, home finder and 24/7 crisis support are always just a call away. “It can be scary,” acknowledges Kristi. “Even though they’re going through training, until they get in the trenches, they’re not going to understand what we’re talking about.”

Ongoing Support and Resources

As a foster parent with KVC West Virginia, you’ll have access to plenty of resources and support.

Here are just a few examples:

• Reimbursement: You’ll receive reimbursement from the state to cover the needs of the youth in your care.
• Medical coverage: Every child and teen placed in your home has their medical needs covered to ensure they get the healthcare they need, when they need it.
• Comfort cases: On their first night in foster care, youth receive a bag with essentials like a toothbrush, comb and pajamas, plus comforting items like a stuffed animal, journal, or coloring book.
• School supplies: Each youth gets a backpack filled with supplies for the school year.
• Holiday gifts for the youth in your care: Foster parents can count on holiday gifts for the kids and teens in their home.
• Connection and community: You’ll be invited to fun events like holiday parties and summer picnics, plus get access to special donations like free pool passes or surprise donations/activities from KVC’s caring supporters and donors.

Academic Support for Youth in Foster Care

Foster care can make it really hard for children to do well academically. Here’s how we help: EDIFY (Early Development of Informed Foster Youth) provides specialized, 1-on-1 support to youth KVC serves in foster care. Specific EDIFY services include:

• Tutoring
• Credit recovery
• Mentorship & community

Community Partners and Support

At KVC West Virginia, we do everything we can to support you as a foster parent, and we’re not doing it alone!

We’re lucky to have incredible support from the community, including churches and faith groups, local organizations and generous donors. Because of them, you have even more resources to lean on. 

We also connect new foster parents with experienced foster parents for mentorship, so you can learn from someone who truly understands what it’s like.

We’re so grateful to every partner who believes, like we do, that caring for foster parents is just as important as caring for kids and teens in foster care. If you’d like to support KVC and the children, teens and families we serve, visit kvcwv.org/getinvolved.

Become a Foster Parent with KVC West Virginia!

Thinking about becoming a foster parent in West Virginia? Kristi says the best thing you can do is just reach out and ask questions. 

Kristi Ferrell, LSW, Director of Permanency

 

“We don’t know if we can do it until we try,” Kristi shares. “If every foster parent went in thinking ‘I don’t think I can do this,’ there wouldn’t be any foster parents. Sometimes it’s about taking that leap of faith. You’ll never know the difference you can make until you try.”

 

If you’re curious or ready to take the next step, fill out this short form. You’ll be connected directly with Kristi, who will walk you through what fostering really looks like.