A ministry of Patrick Henry Family Services, Expanded Families for Children focuses on helping families in crisis, keeping children safe, and reuniting families. Expanded Families for Children-Virginia provides breathing room and support for parents in temporary crisis, giving them time to get back on their feet, while their children are cared for in a safe and loving environment.

Volunteers who host children and support parents are known as Host Families, and are recruited from a large network of faith communities. Parents in crisis, called the Placing Family, willingly place their children with a loving and thoroughly screened volunteer Host Family for a short period of time. They can reunite with their children at any time. Both the Placing Family and the Host Family participate voluntarily, with no compensation or expectation of adoption. The trust built between the Placing Family and Host Family is central to the Expanded Families program; it’s at the heart of creating a safe, temporary haven for children, and a strong, caring support network for the Placing Family.

After the hosting arrangement ends, Expanded Families For Children’s goal is for the two families to remain in contact, further reducing social isolation, and providing ongoing support. Please contact cgeorge@blueridge.org for more information.