OAA webinar on housing option for children in DSS care - Oct. 9, 2025

Tuesday, September 30, 2025/Categories: News Board

Many cities have had situations where children had to be separated from their parents but DSS lacked an immediate place for them.  We have heard stories about children sleeping in DSS offices while waiting placement. This is a concern not just for DSS agencies, but also for J&DR judges, court services units, schools, and other entities at the city and county level.

Because children in the foster care system are at high risk of developing substance use disorders, the Opioid Abatement Authority (OAA) has determined it is an allowable use of opioid settlement dollars to fund efforts that reduce trauma for these kids and to support their placement in healthy family settings.

To that end, OAA is providing information about a non-profit organization called Isaiah 117 House (here is their website).  In short, they build houses that are specifically designed to provide a safe and healthy environment for children from the moment they are removed from a home to when they can be placed with kinship caregivers or foster parents. They also provide the staffing so that social workers do not need to stay with the children.  This is the ultimate alternative to having kids sleep in a DSS office. But there is a lot more to their programming, as they provide ongoing support to families, kids and social workers.

On October 9 from 11:00 am to 12:00 noon the OAA is hosting a webinar that provides an overview of Isaiah 117 House, including where they are establishing programs in Virginia and how cities and counties can utilize opioid settlement funds to support more Isaiah 117 Houses. 

The webinar is a live event that will be recorded and made available afterward for anyone who is interested. 

Registration: The link  to sign up for the webinar is https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1dX4DPI0QMeEM9QZT4Qw-Q.

For questions, please contact:

Anthony E. “Tony” McDowell, Executive Director

Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority

701 E. Franklin St., Suite 803

Richmond, VA 23219

tmcdowell@voaa.us