With more than 6,000 children in Virginia’s foster care system, HopeTree is calling attention to the need for more families willing to open their homes.
SALEM, VA (November 2, 2026) — According to the Virginia Department of Social Services, 6,159 children were in foster care across the Commonwealth as of October 1, 2026. Behind that number are children who need stability, connection, and adults willing to show up for them. For many, finding a safe, supportive family begins with someone deciding to become a foster parent.
This November, in recognition of National Adoption Month, HopeTree Family Services is bringing attention to Virginia’s foster care needs through its Make Room for Hope initiative. We’re inviting businesses across Virginia to designate an empty chair in their workplace to serve as a reminder that thousands of children need families willing to open their homes.
The message is simple: An empty chair in your home could change the life of a child who needs a place to belong.
Every child deserves permanency: a safe, stable, and lasting family connection. For some children, that means safely reuniting with their biological families. For others, it means moving forward with adoption. Both are important permanency outcomes, and foster care plays an essential role in helping children and families reach those outcomes.
“National Adoption Month reminds us that permanency is always the goal for children in foster care,” said April Estrada, Director of Foster Care at HopeTree Family Services. “Whenever it is safe and possible, children belong with their families. But when reunification cannot happen, foster families step forward to provide the permanency every child deserves.”
As a foster care provider with decades of experience, HopeTree works alongside children and families throughout this journey. From preparing families through training and a thoughtful matching process to providing ongoing guidance and 24/7 support, HopeTree helps foster parents navigate the new experience of welcoming a child into their home.
“Foster parenting requires a unique kind of courage,” said Estrada. “It means loving a child with open hands, fully investing in their future while knowing they may someday return home. Whether that journey leads to reunification or adoption, that love and commitment can transform a child’s life forever.”
Through Make Room for Hope, HopeTree Family Services aims to raise awareness about the rising number of children in foster care and the urgent need for more Virginians to consider opening their homes to children in foster care. By designating an empty chair in the workplace, businesses can help bring visibility to the need for foster families and remind their communities that making room for a child can change a life.
Participating Businesses
About HopeTree Family Services
HopeTree Family Services is a human services nonprofit in Virginia dedicated to fostering hope by empowering families, youth, and adults. HopeTree offers a wide range of programs for at-risk youth and their families across the state. Programs include Treatment Foster Care, Therapeutic Group Homes, HopeTree Academy, and Family Centered Treatment. Visit www.hopetreefs.org for more information.
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