Frequently Asked Questions About HopeTree Family Services (formerly Virginia Baptist Children's Home & Family Services).

1. Does someone have to be Baptist to become part of the programs here?
No.  Approximately 90% of the at-risk youth we receive have no prior religious experience at all. We accept residents without regard to sex, race, religious preference, or economic status.

2. How many residents live here?
The number of residents in our Residential Care programs fluctuates constantly. We have space for 52 residents on our Salem campus and 24 in our Boys WOODS program. Between the four programs, we usually have an average of 50-70 residents in our care at any given time. Our foster care program is licensed to provide care for up to 50 children and at any given time serves between 30-35 children between our Salem and Chester Offices.

3. How often do the residents go to church?
For the Salem campus, the Christian Education Department provides a chapel service on Sunday, smaller Bible study sessions during the week, and countless one-on-one counseling sessions as residents request them.  Christian Education staff also attend numerous outings and activities so they have the opportunity to get to know the residents and witness to them through their daily interactions.

Residents of WOODS also benefit from activities with the Christian Education Department during the week and attend local church services on Sundays.

Children placed in our Treatment Foster Care program are placed in loving, Christian certified foster homes and are given the opportunity to attend church with their foster family. 

Each of our adult group homes in the Developmental Disabilities Ministry is partnered with a local church which the residents attend regularly and become as active as possible in their respective church's various activities.

4. How old are most of the residents here?
We are licensed to accept children aged 12-17 in Residential Care, we seldom have anyone younger that 13 in care on campus. Our WOODS program is licensed to accept boys ages 11-17.  Our Treatment Foster Care Progarm is licensed to provide services to chidlren infant through age 17 DDM residents must be at least 18 years of age.

5. Where do the residents go to school?
Most residents attend our on-campus HopeTree Academy. It is fully licensed by the Virginia Association of Independent Specialized Education Facilities and offers all the required academic courses our residents need to continue their education while away from their home school district.

Many Residential Care residents have the option of attending Salem City Public Schools, but most prefer to remain in HopeTree Academy due to the small class sizes and abundance of one-on-one instruction from our teachers. The average HopeTree Academy class has a 6:1 student-teacher ratio.

Children placed through our Treatment Foster Care Program attend public or private schools within the community of their foster home.

6. Who actually cares for the residents?
On the Salem campus, we have trained staff working 12-hour shifts who care for the residents. This insures someone is on duty 24 hours-a-day to provide supervision, guidance, and a listening ear whenever our residents have needs.

WOODS Direct Care staff work a rotating schedule of three days on - three days off, providing around the clock supervision and care.

Treatment Foster Care Certified treatment foster parents provide 24-7 care to the children placed in their homes with support and guidance from HTFS Treatment Foster Care Social Workers

DDM group home staff live in the homes with residents on rotating schedules of four days on - four days off.  This living arrangement provides an atmosphere of continuity and consistency important to our adult residents. 

7. What happens when a resident turns 18?
When residents turn 18, they are legally considered adults and may leave our care on their own. Because we want our residents to develop into the most well-adjusted, productive adults possible, we offer assistance in gaining them admission to transitional independent living settings. We also will assist any resident who completes their high school education while in our care with their further education goals. HopeTree has provided tuition assistance to a number of former residents who completed technical training, community college, four-year colleges, and even graduate school.

8. Who are the adults you care for?
In 1992, HopeTree began the Developmental Disabilities Ministry which provides Christian group homes for adults with developmental disabilities. With separate homes for men and women, DDM has facilities in Abingdon, Fredericksburg, Martinsville, Salem, Farmville, Bedford, Virginia Beach, and Richmond. DDM provides individualized care which enables residents to live their lives to their fullest potential. This growing program is not only a ministry to the residents, but to their families as well. Knowing their sons, daughters, or siblings have permanent homes where they will be lovingly cared for eases a tremendous burden from the minds and hearts of family care-givers.

9. I'm interested in adopting a child.  Can HopeTree help me?
HopeTree provides Foster Care and Adoption services throughout Virginia.  Currently we serve areas within two hours of Richmond and Roanoke.  If you have an interest in becoming a foster parent, please contact one of our offices in either Roanoke (540-444-0566) or Chester (804-201-9006). 

10. How can my church or organization help HopeTree?
It is primarily through the dedicated support of caring individuals and churches that HopeTree Family Services is able to provide the vast array of services it does. Here is a short list of ways to help further our ministries.

a) Remember our staff and residents in your prayers
b) Inform others about our ministries
c) Prayerfully consider making financial contributions
d) Sponsor a cottage or individual resident