Foster Care & Adoption
Why foster with The Up Center?
There are over 1,000 children and teens in foster care in Eastern Virginia, and many more are turned away because there are not enough loving homes to support them. We can provide you with the resources and support to change that! Learn how you can become a foster parent today!
What We Do
The Up Center specializes in placing children and adolescents with varying needs in caring foster homes. Creating a safe and stable home and family environment is the greatest service we can provide to families in need. We strive to find the best matches possible between child and foster parent, and provide ongoing care and support for both.
Interested?
Join us at one of our info sessions to learn how to become a foster parent. There is NO obligation to commit by attending a session and registration is required. Sessions typically last one hour and couples are encouraged to attend together.
To register, email fostercareadoption@theupcenter.org or give us a call at 757-965-8638.
Our Impact
A stable and nurturing foster or adoptive family can significantly improve a child’s emotional and social development. The Up Center’s Foster Care & Adoption program has successfully placed many children in resource homes over the years, offering them a brighter future and the support they need to succeed.
In 2023,
9 children
were placed for adoption
37 families
were partnered with
9 children
were reunited with their biological family
What to Expect
Frequently Asked Questions
Children and youth are placed in foster care while their parent or guardian are given the opportunity, resources, and time to be better prepared to provide safety upon their return. The length of time a child or teen spends in foster care varies depending on the needs of the family. The Up Center’s Foster Care program provides a safe, nurturing, trauma informed, teaching home environment specifically designed to accommodate the needs of the kids during this time.
Children placed in a traditional foster care setting have been determined to not have significant mental health or behavioral issues, may be developmentally on target, demonstrate age appropriate behaviors and are in need of basic nurturing and supervision from an adult caregiver.
Therapeutic foster care provides family-based treatment for children up to the age of 18 with special emotional, behavioral or medical needs. Children in therapeutic foster care have complex behavioral, mental health, and developmental concerns as a result of past trauma or abusive situations.
The Up Center is uniquely qualified to accommodate the needs of emotionally troubled and behaviorally challenged children who are at risk for failure or have failed in regular foster homes, have been unable to live with their own families, or who are going through a transitional period.
Trauma-Informed Parenting adjusts your parenting methods to respond to your child’s needs, understanding the impact of trauma on your child.
Parenting is not easy. Foster parenting is also not easy. Through times of triumph and struggle, foster parents need quality, professional support. The Up Center provides industry-leading training and 24/7 access to support. Know that you will not walk this journey alone.
We train and support foster parents, or resource families, to diminish the factors that impede a child’s return to their home or help the child achieve a permanent placement when reunification is not possible or in the child’s best interests.
"Why I Foster"
“We had a great experience with The Up Center. Our clinicians were caring, empathetic and supportive. They showed love to our kiddos and our family as a whole. I believe that The Up Center is truly impacting lives for the better every day.”
—K. Berry
“Jen and I are so impressed with the Up Center as a whole. That certainly applies to Sheridan but also everyone that we have had the pleasure of dealing with. The kid’s safety and growth are clearly your #1 priority”.
—The Dalton Family
“It’s been the most challenging and most rewarding experience, amazing in the best and sometimes the very worst ways. I can say with zero doubt that we have worked alongside the best of the best by being with The Up Center. You will never tell me differently”.
—The Cholewinski Family
Meet the Team
Sharon Reams, MSW
director of youth services
Raini Wimbro, MEd
Resource family supervisor
Raini is the Resource Family Supevisor for Foster Care and Adoptions. She has been part of the Foster Care team since 2011. She is passionate about empowering children and families whose lives have been impacted by trauma and helping them heal.
Natasha Beamon, BS
placement supervisor
Natasha is Placement Supervisor of Foster Care and Adoptions. She has been with The Up Center since 2009. She is committed to serving children and families in the Hampton Roads community and promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in programs for children and families.
Holly Cahill, BS
resource home clinician
Holly is a Resource Home Clinician. She joined the Foster Care team in 2018 and has worked in child welfare since 2013. Holly is a Virginia Beach native and enjoys advocating for children in her community.
Sabrina S. Carr, MPA
outreach coordinator
Sabrina is Outreach Coordinator for Foster Care and Adoptions. She joined our foster care team in 2019. She is a native of Hampton Roads and has served our comminty for over 15 years. She finds it very rewarding to connect children with loving families.
Rebecca Gregory, MSW
Supervisee in Social Work
Rebecca is the Intake Coordinator for Foster Care and Adoptions. She joined our foster care team in 2018. Rebecca uses her clinical background in trauma and attachment to ensure that the time children are in our care can be filled with healing and growth as they move towards permanency.
Joseph Massenburg, BA
Therapeutic Family clinician
Joseph has been with The Up Center since 2006. He started as an In-Home Clinican and now works in Foster Care as a Therapeutic Family Clinician. Joseph loves working with the children and families to assist in their growth and progression.
Victoria Smallwood, BS
resource family coordinator
Victoria is the Resource Family Coordinator. She joined The Up Center in 2016 to help children and families in the community to receive and connect with additional resources and support. Believing families are forever, she enthusiastically works with the team to ensure children have a dedicated family with whom to stay.
Kaelyn Wagner, BS
Become a Foster Parent
Our foster parents are everyday heroes. If you are interested in making a difference in a child’s life and are willing to open your heart and your home, please consider joining our team so we can help youth in foster care maximize their full potential.
Becoming a foster parent can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. Here are some of the benefits of welcoming a foster child into your home:
- Creating a strong bond through a shared goal and experience within your own family
- Learning soft skills that are applicable to other areas of your life, such as patience, compassion, and empathy
- Making a positive contribution to your community and inspiring others
- Providing a safe haven and support system for children who need it most.
We are currently looking for adults—single, married, divorced, LGBTQIA+ —to provide a loving home to a foster child.
Contact Us
How You Can Help
Children who enter our Foster Care program often need clothing, diapers, formula, books, suitcases, etc. At The Up Center, we ensure that every child has access to NEW essential items purchased especially for them. To see a list of items frequently requested by families, including items for children, please visit our Amazon Wish List.
During the back to school season, many children need school supplies, backpacks, coats, shoes, etc. During the holidays, we purchase gifts, toys and books for children in our program and host an Annual Holiday Party. If you would like to help our team support foster children in our care, please email us at development@theupcenter.org or make a donation to The Up Center here.
Our Mission
We are committed to partnering with children, families, and communities to improve lives and outcomes through prevention, intervention, and support services.
