Virginia

Foster parent inquiries down 40% in Virginia, but you can help

Published

6 months ago

May 16, 2024

Foster parent inquiries down 40% in Virginia, but you can help

LYNCHBURG, Va. (WDBJ) – May is National Foster Care Month. As interest in fostering declines across the commonwealth, United Methodist Family Services of Virginia is spreading knowledge about the process of becoming a foster parent.

UMFS is a nonprofit that provides community-based services for kinship families, foster care, adoption and independent living for kids aging out of foster care.

“We like to keep children close to their birth families, so they don’t have to move far, or they don’t have to be separated from siblings. So, we get a call, we get an email or an online referral from a local Department of Social Services (DSS) that says we need a placement and here are the needs. So, then it’s our job to then match and identify families for those children to best suit their needs,” said Regional Director of UMFS South & West Region, Holly Coates.

Currently, there are nearly 5,400 children in Virginia’s foster care system and nearly 600 children in foster care in Southwest Virginia. The state is ranked one of the worst for the number of youths aging out of the system at 18 years old.

“We need more homes so that we can serve more children. There are more children coming into care at different times and we don’t like to say no that we don’t have an option for a child because that leaves children sleeping in hospitals or DSS’s or in group homes where they don’t need to be. They need to be in homes with families that care about them, nurture them and allow them to be kids,” said Coates.

A need Deb Lowe wanted to fulfill and learn more about. Since 2018, she has fostered 8 children with UMFS in Lynchburg.

“I was a little leery because I am a single parent with no other biological kids. But I like to find out the things that they like and that’s where I start. Of course, there are challenges when you’re getting to know somebody new that you haven’t lived with before. To have that change very suddenly for both the parent and the child takes some adjustments. To have good support is very crucial,” said Foster Parent, Deb Lowe.

Lowe’s foster son Lukas, who she has since adopted, said when he first started living with her, he was not happy. But over time things have changed for the better.

“I’ve gotten good grades and my attitude towards my mom is really, really good. It made me feel really special and made me feel like God really wanted me here. He made a miracle for me and changed my life,” said Lukas.

UMFS data reveals foster care inquiries by prospective parents continues to trend downward. In fact, the nonprofit is seeing a 40% decline in interested caregivers since 2020. The decrease follows national trends. More than half of U.S. states experienced reductions in licensed foster homes in 2023.

“I think some of the barriers include myths about the children in general. I also think that there are a lot of misunderstandings about what it takes to become a foster parent. That’s there’s no support, or that you have to be wealthy, or you have to own your own home, or you have to be married and none of those things are accurate. It’s just a matter of being able to develop a relationship with the child,” said Coates.

Becoming a foster parent through UMFS takes roughly 3-6 months, and most of the training takes place online. Coates said the average stay in foster care is 6 to 18 months.

For more information about becoming a foster parent or to register for a virtual information session visit https://www.umfs.org/get-involved/become-a-foster-parent-virginia/

Coates said UMFS and the state is also moving towards a focus on kinship care. Working to support birth families, next of kin and friends to care for the child or be a support, rather than the child going into foster care.

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Virginia

Sunshine State Bound Wolverines Ready for Virginia Tech at Fort Myers Tipoff – University of Michigan Athletics

Published

1 hour ago

November 26, 2024

Press Room

Sunshine State Bound Wolverines Ready for Virginia Tech at Fort Myers Tipoff – University of Michigan Athletics

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The University of Michigan men’s basketball team (4-1) hits the road to take on Virginia Tech (3-2) at the Fort Myers Myers Tip-Off on Monday (Nov. 25) at Suncoast Credit Union Arena. Opening tip is scheduled for 6 p.m., and the game will be broadcast live on FS1.

Notes

• There will be eight teams in two divisions competing in the Fort Myers Tipoff. Michigan is among four teams in the Beach Division along with South Carolina, Virginia Tech and Xavier. The Palms Division features Miami (Ohio), Jacksonville, Mercer and Siena.

• The Maize and Blue faces Virginia Tech in its Beach Division opener on Monday. After a prep day, Michigan plays either South Carolina or Xavier in the consolation (6 p.m.) or championship (8:30 p.m.) on Wednesday (Nov. 27).

• After Thanksgiving, the Michigan women’s team plays at the Fort Myers Tipoff, in Shell Division play. Kim Barnes Arico’s Wolverines open with Belmont (Nov. 29; 2 p.m.) and play either Virginia Tech or Davidson on Saturday (Nov. 30) in the consolation (2 p.m.) or championship (5 p.m.).

• Michigan is 4-2 all-time against Virginia Tech. After winning the first four games in the series, the Wolverines have dropped the last two. U-M faces Virginia Tech for the first time in eight years, last playing in 2016 ACC/Big Ten Challenge at Crisler Center. All six games in this series have been part of a tournament or specialty event.

• Michigan is 3-3 all-time against South Carolina. The Wolverines could face the Gamecocks for the first time in six years, with the teams having faced off in the second game of a home-and-home series played in 2018. There have been three games in Ann Arbor, and two in Columbia. The lone neutral-site game was the championship of the 2006 NIT in Madison Square Garden (U-M lost 76-64).

• Michigan is 3-1 all-time against Xavier. Two of the four games have been played in the postseason. The first came in the 1984 NIT quarterfinals — a 63-62 U-M win — as the Wolverines went on to claim their first NIT title. The second was in the 1989 NCAA first round — a 92-87 U-M win — which was the launching point for the Maize and Blue on its way its first national championship. The last meeting between the Wolverines and Musketeers was in the 2015 Gavitt Games (Big Ten vs. Big East) at Crisler Center — nine years ago (U-M lost 86-70).

• ?Michigan wrapped up a three-game homestand (3-0) and improved to 4-1 overall. Now, U-M plays five of its next six games on the road. The Wolverines will be away from Ann Arbor for seven of its next 10 games.

• U-M is shooting 52.8 percent from the field, which ranks 15th nationally. Seven Wolverines are shooting above 50 percent as Tre Donaldson leads U-M shooting 62.2 percent (23-for-37).

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Virginia

West Virginia Mountaineers: Commitment 101: Jahmir Davis

Published

10 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

West Virginia Mountaineers: Commitment 101: Jahmir Davis

Cincinnati (Oh.) La Salle 2025 offensive tackle Jahmir Davis has committed to West Virginia.

The 6-foot-6, 305-pounder, picked the Mountaineers after a weekend official visit to campus where he earned a scholarship offer from the Big 12 Conference program.

The Buckeye State product also held offer from Marshall and Kent State but had been on the West Virginia radar since the summer.

That interest picked up over the past several weeks after a strong senior season where he earned Division II Southwest District All Star first-team selection honors.

Davis was recruited by recruiting coordinators Trey Neyer and Ken Signoretti and then developed into a connection with offensive line coach Matt Moore.

The offensive tackle fills a need for West Virginia in the 2025 class and becomes the third offensive lineman to commit to the program this cycle behind Olney (Md.) Good Counsel 2025 offensive lineman Gavin Crawford and Olney (Md.) Good Counsel offensive lineman Eidan Buchanan.

Overall, Davis is the 23rd prospect to commit to West Virginia in the 2025 class.

WVSports.com breaks down the commitment of Davis and what it means to the West Virginia Mountaineers football program both now and in the future.

Skill set:

Davis possesses excellent size and good athleticism for an offensive tackle. He also has an impressive wingspan which is going to help him in his role at the position. An under-the-radar type, West Virginia has had a lot of success over the years with identifying these athletic body types and molding them for their roles along the offensive front and Davis has the potential to do the same.

The Mountaineers needed to find another tackle type body in this class and Davis checks that box physically, while also impressing with his play on the field as a senior.

Fitting the program:

West Virginia needed more offensive tackle body types in the program with the Mountaineers set to lose both of their starters from the 2024 season to graduation. Buchanan is a major piece to that puzzle, but Davis is also is exactly what the doctor ordered. An intriguing frame, with plus athleticism, Davis is going to need to develop his body at the college level and fill out but has the physical qualities that you’re looking for at tackle.

The offensive lineman has already visited Morgantown so there is a comfort level there and he should be able to step and in start that process in an offensive line room that will lose four players at the end of the year.

West Virginia has continued to make Ohio a key state when it comes to targeting players and Davis is just the latest to join the program in the past couple seasons.

Recruiting the position:

In terms of offensive tackles Davis fills the need there but the Mountaineers are still recruiting one key target on the offensive line in Ohio commitment Parma (Oh.) Padua Franciscan 2025 offensive lineman Brandon Homady. Like Davis, Homady took an official visit over the weekend to Morgantown and the Mountaineers have made him a priority down the stretch as an interior option on the offensive front.

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West Virginia Turnpike | Thanksgiving holiday travel forecast

Published

18 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

West Virginia Turnpike | Thanksgiving holiday travel forecast

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – The West Virginia Parkways Authority is expecting an estimated 715,100 total transactions to take place at the West Virginia Turnpike’s three toll booths in the six-day Thanksgiving holiday travel period from Tuesday, November 26, 2024, to Sunday, December 1, 2024.

“Wednesday and Sunday of Thanksgiving week are typically two of the busiest travel days we experience on the West Virginia Turnpike during the entire year” said Jeff Miller, executive director of the Parkways Authority.

On Wednesday, November 27, 2024, 150,000 transactions are expected to take place on the West Virginia Turnpike, with 160,000 transactions expected on Sunday, December 1, 2024.

A total of 127,500 transactions are expected on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, with heavier traffic from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.; 65,000 transactions estimated on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 28, 2024; and 82,500 transactions estimated on Friday, November 29, 2024. On Saturday, November 30, 2024, the West Virginia Parkways Authority estimates 127,500 transactions at Turnpike toll booths.

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