Our mission is to find foster, adoptive, and kinship families for every child in central Virginia’s foster system through collaboration with agencies, families, and youth.
We work to recruit and retain foster, adoptive, and kinship families so children in foster care can find permanent, loving families. We do this by sharing the stories and portraits of foster children, collaborating with other agencies, and educating prospective foster-to-adopt parents. Thank you for taking the first step towards finding a permanent, loving family for every child in central Virginia!
More than 1,100 children in central Virginia are in foster care, many waiting to be adopted. Each and every child deserves a permanent, loving home!
ABOUT US
Why Foster-to-Adopt?
Page B. shares why she chose to foster-to-adopt:
“My husband and I got married late; it was a second marriage for both of us. We both really wanted another kid and started exploring adoption. Since we were older, we didn’t feel like it was the right thing for us to adopt an infant, so we adopted our daughter from foster care.
“Our daughter is an amazing kid. I didn’t give birth to her, but when she’s sad, I’m sad, and when she’s joyous, I’m joyous. Sometimes it’s challenging, but so is parenting any child. It’s tough, but it’s rewarding. There’s no difference in my relationship with her than if she were my biological child.”
Our Mission
JFS Connecting Hearts’ mission is to find foster, adoptive, and kinship families for every child in central Virginia’s foster system through collaboration with agencies, families, and youth.
Connecting Hearts' Founder
In August 2014, Debbie Johnston was appointed Virginia’s Adoption Champion by Governor Terry McAuliffe. An adoptee herself, Debbie is passionate about helping children find permanent, loving homes, and founded Connecting Hearts to fulfill that mission. She credits her success to her loving Virginia family who adopted her, believed in her, and gave her that basic human right: a family.
I’m passionate about this because I was adopted. I want all kids to get their own loving family for life.

Contact: Denise Wise-David
If you are interested in becoming a foster or foster-to-adopt parent, would like to get involved in our organization, or want to share your foster care or adoption story, please do not hesitate to contact us!
[email protected] / 804-282-5644 ext. 280 / Facebook / Instagram
Alternatively, you may fill out the contact form below.
THE HEART GALLERY
Youth Waiting for Adoption
The Heart Gallery shares the stories and portraits of children in Virginia’s foster care system available for adoption. The photographs capture children’s spirit and individuality in order to connect them to families hoping to adopt.
The Heart Gallery uses the power of photography and storytelling to raise awareness about the children in foster care awaiting adoption.
Want to Help?
If you own a local business and have a free table, wall space, or TV display, you can host the Heart Gallery! Even a counter where we can leave brochures can help us find families for every child in Virginia’s foster care system!
You can also host a link to our digital Heart Gallery on your business’s website! Fill out the contact form below to learn more and get involved.
Meet Children Waiting for Adoption
JFS Connecting Hearts hosts the Central Region Heart Gallery of Waiting Kids through the FAM-20-093 Grant Partnership with the Virginia Department of Social Services.
On Their Way
These children have been placed in adoptive foster homes and are on their way to forever families!
Home For Good!
These children have "achieved permanency" - adoption by their forever families!

Contact: Denise Wise-David
If you are interested in becoming a foster or foster-to-adopt parent, would like to get involved in our organization, or want to share your foster care or adoption story, please do not hesitate to contact us!
[email protected] / 804-282-5644 ext. 280 / Facebook / Instagram
Alternatively, you may fill out the contact form below.
JFS CONNECTING HEARTS FAMILY ALLIANCE
Begin Your Foster-to-Adopt Journey
The mission of the JFS Connecting Hearts Family Alliance is to support families throughout their foster, adoption, or kinship journey with peer support, education, and mentorship. The JFS Connecting Hearts Family Alliance is open to all foster, adoptive, and kinship families in Virginia. Members receive access to:
- Electronic newsletters
- Webinars and podcasts
- Support groups
- Mentors
- Educational and social activities
- Opportunities to support adoption in Virginia
Once you join the JFS Connecting Hearts Family Alliance, you will receive a welcome email with information on how you can engage with us! You will find opportunities for educational supports, peer support, mentoring activities, and events for you and your family to engage in alongside other foster, adoptive, and kinship families in Virginia.
Resources and Blog
Learning is a life-long enterprise, and it’s even more true as you begin your foster, adoption, or kinship journey! The children coming into your life have faced incredible challenges that impact their emotional, physical, and social development. We want to be certain you have access to the essential parenting tools you need to foster their positive growth.
Below you will find our own webinars on a variety of topics, archives of our newsletters and blog posts, as well as links to outside resources that provide more formal educational opportunities.
Sneak Peek at the 2021 NFPA Conference
Virtual Learning Event for Foster Parents The National Foster Parent Association announced their 50th Education Conference, FORWARD, will take place online from June 24-26, 2021. Registration opens on April 15 and costs $99 for the three day event. Videos of the entire conference will be available to watch for three months after it ends, so […]
Read MoreTwice as Many Lights of Love!
JFS’ second annual Lights of Love was a great success, thanks to you: our friends, partners, volunteers, and staff! Lights of Love is a program designed to help bring warmth and light to neighbors who might otherwise feel forgotten. Last year, generous donors and friends brightened the holiday season for 40+ adults, seniors, families, and […]
Read MoreHands Held, Hearts Found
JFS Connecting Hearts had a busy fall! Between the Virtual Bowling Ball awareness- and fundraiser and November’s “A Hand to Hold” media campaign, we have been busy sharing the stories of children in foster care and recruiting potential foster and adoptive families! JFS Connecting Hearts is humbled by the work of our sponsors, volunteers, donors, […]
Read MoreWhy Should I Consider Joining a Support Group?
There are quite of few of us that just don’t feel the drive to join anything, including support groups. Usually, these groups are scheduled at specific times and days of the month. People who are long time members become close knit, while new members can feel a bit out of the loop. So, some people […]
Read MoreJFS Interns in the Spotlight
JFS is lucky to host talented interns across the agency from many different schools, programs, and backgrounds. These driven students spend time engrossed in the day-to-day at JFS, serving clients and practicing what they’ve learned in their classrooms. We interviewed a few of our fascinating interns to learn about them, their goals, and how they’re […]
Read MoreConnecting Hearts at JFS Connected Hearts This November
November is Adoption Awareness Month. Since 2015, Connecting Hearts at JFS has celebrated with the “A Hand to Hold” campaign in partnership with WTVR CBS 6. Every day in November, CBS 6 features a child or sibling group in foster care awaiting adoption in central Virginia on Virginia This Morning, the evening news and their […]
Read MoreSupport for You
We believe that support for the foster, adoptive, and kinship journey is important for a rewarding and successful experience. But, one size does not fit all when it comes to emotional support. JFS Connecting Hearts’ Family Alliance is committed to offering the support you need, whether joining a group works best for you or you prefer help on an as-needed basis. We are here for you at every step of your foster, adoptive, or kinship journey.
If you want support on your schedule, click here to join our Family Alliance support group on Facebook! The Facebook support group is also a place for you to post issues, questions, concerns, and celebrations to share with other parents. You can tune in for support anytime, day or night, and the JFS Connecting Hearts team and other Family Alliance members will be there.
We will host weekly live support chats in the group by Zoom and Facebook Live on Wednesdays at 8:00 PM. In each chat, we will share a resource for families and make time for you to ask questions and connect with other parents. The chats are archived in the group, so you can watch any time.
Check out our blog post about some of the benefits of joining a support group. We will also share information on our calendar from support groups across the state. If you need help finding a support group in your area, contact Cate at [email protected].
Laws and Policies
One of the important services we can provide to support you and your family is to keep you informed about state and federal legislation, laws, regulations, and policies that impact you. In this section, you can learn more about the legislative processes and how to raise your voice in support of children and families. Our monthly Family Alliance newsletter also features news about laws related to foster care, kinship care, and adoption – you can find the newsletter archive in the Educational Resources section above.
Sponsored in Part By

Anthem HealthKeepers is proud to join JFS Connecting Hearts in supporting adoptive, foster, and kinship families in Virginia!
CALENDAR
Below is a calendar of events, orientations, and trainings for prospective foster, adoptive, and kinship families provided by Local Departments of Social Services and JFS Connecting Hearts. Click on each event to see the full details. You may also click the arrow in the top right corner of the calendar to filter events by region: Greater Richmond, Middle Peninsula, Northern Neck, and Piedmont.
Match-to-Adopt Events
Match-to-Adopt events provide an opportunity for prospective adoptive parents to learn about adoption and children waiting for their forever homes. Our matching process focuses on educating families about the adoption process and the specific needs of children hoping to be adopted, as well as protecting the dignity of children through the process.
We invite you to view the Heart Gallery, which highlights children hoping to be adopted. We will feature a virtual tour of children's videos being added to the profiles soon.
When families express their interest in pursuing adoption, we bring together the families, including the child's current fostering families, and Foster-to-Adopt workers to share information about the adoption process, the needs of children, and to address the families' questions.
Our next step is to create fun social environments for families and children to come together and learn more about one another in a relaxed atmosphere.
Once the Foster-to-Adopt worker, families, and child have decided to pursue an adoption, the Foster-to-Adopt worker will begin supporting the family and child through the adoption process.
ADOPTION AWARENESS MONTH
A Hand to Hold
November is Adoption Awareness Month! Since 2015, JFS Connecting Hearts has celebrated with the “A Hand to Hold” campaign in partnership with WTVR CBS 6. Every day in November, CBS 6 features a child or sibling group in foster care awaiting adoption in central Virginia on Virginia This Morning, the evening news, and their website and social media outlets.
The goal of the campaign is to find these 30 children forever homes, but also to raise awareness about the other 1,100 children in need of permanent, loving homes who aren’t featured.
JFS Connecting Hearts profoundly grateful to WTVR CBS 6 News for joining us for another "A Hand to Hold" Adoption Awareness Month campaign! Every day in November, CBS 6 featured children in central Virginia's foster care system available for adoption, raising awareness about the need for foster and adoptive parents and hoping to connect kids to loving families.
"A Hand to Hold" 2020 by the numbers:
- 31 children featured – 18 from the Richmond area – between the ages of 10 and 17
- 38,500 views of the kids' features on JFS and CBS 6’s social media
- 5,000 unique visitors to the JFS Connecting Hearts website - 50% of JFS' total web traffic in November
- 70 families called JFS Connecting Hearts to inquire about adoption, and half of them inquired about a specific child
- 32 families are now working towards becoming certified to foster or adopt
And, the happiest news of all...
Two children were placed with their forever families!
Traverious was featured on CBS 6 on the first day of "A Hand to Hold," November 1. The very next week, he moved into an adoptive placement! Traverious is now well on his way to permanent adoption!
Treazure has been in foster care and featured in the Heart Gallery for several years. Then, during this year's campaign, her biological father recognized her and immediately contacted JFS. After the DSS' review, Treazure is now reunited with her father!
Many thanks to all the sponsors, donors, volunteers, and partners who made the campaign a success. Their hard work made a tangible difference in children’s lives by telling their stories, reaching new audiences, and finding their forever families!
Below are a few of the 2020 features:
THE (VIRTUAL) BOWLING BALL
Fun for a Cause
How Do You Roll for Kids in Foster Care?
There's not a moment to spare. Over 1,000 children in Virginia's foster care system are looking for permanent, loving homes. COVID-19 has disrupted their support systems, and many children in foster care have already experienced trauma, making them even more vulnerable to the pandemic's impacts.
JFS Connecting Hearts' mission is to find foster, adoptive, and kinship families for every child in central Virginia’s foster system. This year, instead of canceling the second annual Bowling Ball because of covid-19, we re-envisioned it as the Virtual Bowling Ball!
JFS Connecting Hearts is humbled by the work of our sponsors, volunteers, donors, and partners to make the entire effort a success. Because of their compassion and generosity, the Virtual Bowling Ball reached its fundraising goal!
We made a short video to express our appreciation - you can watch it below!

Contact: Denise Wise-David
If you are interested in becoming a foster or foster-to-adopt parent, would like to get involved in our organization, or want to share your foster care or adoption story, please do not hesitate to contact us!
[email protected] / 804-282-5644 ext. 280 / Facebook / Instagram
Alternatively, you may fill out the contact form below.
FAQ
OUR PARTNERS
WTVR CBS 6
Since 2015, JFS Connecting Hearts has celebrated with the “A Hand to Hold” campaign in partnership with WTVR CBS 6. Every day in November, CBS 6 features a child or sibling group in foster care awaiting adoption in central Virginia on Virginia This Morning, the evening news, and their website and social media outlets.
Change Who Waits
We work with Change Who Waits on photo shoot events to get high quality photos of kids in foster care who are available for Foster-to-Adopt. Check out their website to see the photos and videos of kids in our state who need a forever family!
One Church One Child
We work with Once Church Once Child on photo shoot events to get high quality photos of kids in foster care who are available for Foster-to-Adopt.
Einstein Bagel Bros
Einstein Bagel Bros has been a yearly participant in our Foster-to-Adopt Educational Campaigns in order to spread the necessary awareness needed to recruit prospective foster and adoptive families for Virginia’s children!
River City Roll
We partner with River City Roll for Match Events and our Bowling Ball Event.
Abundant Life Church of Christ
Abundant Life Church of Christ will be participating in a “One Faith One Child” Campaign in support of Connecting Heart's mission. ALCC's Pastor Gary Foreman has even chosen to begin the Foster-to-Adopt process himself.
Heart Gallery Hosts
Amazing Grace World Fellowship
Ashland Coffee and Tea Cafe
BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse
Candela’s
Children's Museum of Richmond
Christian Life Church
Clover Hill Assembly of God
Epiphany Catholic Church
Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
Harvest Church RVA
Heritage Public Library
Journey Christian Church
Launch Jump Park
Manchester YMCA
Mechanicsville Branch Library
Mt. Gilead Church
New Direction Church
Omni Hotel Charlottesville
Painting with a Twist
Providence Presbyterian Church
Randolph Community Center
Synapse Social Richmond
Weinstein JCC
West End BNI
Western Henrico Rotary
WHIMBY
Woodlake United Methodist Church
521 Biscuit