Northumberland County will use a $122,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Social Services to hire a full-time foster care coordinator serving four Northern Neck counties and Essex. The new position, with a salary around $50,000, will focus on keeping foster children local and recruiting new foster homes. The coordinator will rotate among counties, attend juvenile court days, and connect with community groups. The one-year grant covers salary, benefits, travel, and recruitment costs and could be renewed for up to five years if benchmarks for increasing foster home placements are met. County officials say the program ensures children stay closer to home while freeing up existing local funds.
