The Stafford Department of Social Services received an adoption incentive award of $7,216 from a $124,000 grant that the Virginia Department of Social Services was given by the federal government.

The State received the grant because the number of children adopted from the foster care system in Federal Fiscal Year 2006 (October 1, 2005 – September 30, 2006) increased statewide. The state funds were distributed to local Department of Social Services agencies based upon the number of adoptions completed by each agency. Stafford’s award represented 11 finalized adoptions for Stafford foster children during this timeframe. It is the 5th largest award in the Commonwealth.

“We are honored to be recognized for the hard work of our Foster Care and Adoption Assistance staff,” said Michael Muse, director of Stafford’s Department of Social Services. “Our program is successful because our employees are dedicated to helping families and children. We have a strong partnership with our families and offer them support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.”

The award will be used by the department to provide ongoing educational information for the department’s adoptive families, and also to sponsor an adoption celebration event for families this summer.

For more information about Stafford’s Foster Care and Adoption Assistance program, please call (540) 658-8720.

< February 2008 news index