Episode Details

What does successful foster care really look like? Is it measured by the number of children placed, the families recruited, the partnerships built or something much more personal?

For Richard Kingswell, CEO of Extra Special Parents and FosterVA, the answer begins and ends with the people involved, particularly the children whose lives depend on the decisions being made around them.

In this special Season 2 finale of The Kingswell Conversations, Richard reflects on more than 20 years of leading Extra Special Parents in Virginia and shares what doing foster care well means to him.

After a season exploring the practical, emotional and professional realities of foster care, therapeutic foster care, kinship care and adoption, this final conversation looks at the bigger picture.

How do we recognise success in a system that works with people, not predictable outcomes? What does a positive fostering experience look like for a child, a foster parent, an agency or a social worker? And how do organisations maintain the humanity at the heart of their work while navigating the regulations and responsibilities that come with child welfare?

Richard begins with a simple but important reminder: child welfare is human services. People are complex, circumstances change and perfection is not a realistic measure of success.

Instead, he believes success needs to be considered through the experiences of everyone involved, starting with the child.

In this episode, we explore:

• What successful foster care looks like from a child's perspective.
• Why safe family reunification remains a central goal of foster care.
• The importance of finding permanent, loving families when reunification is not possible.
• Why thoughtful matching matters in foster care and adoption.
• What success looks like for someone becoming a foster parent.
• Why preparation, training and confidence matter more than rushing through the approval process.
• How trust is built between families, agencies and child welfare professionals.
• The importance of supporting and retaining experienced agency staff.
• How agencies balance regulatory responsibilities with compassionate, child-centred care.
• Why strong partnerships with local Departments of Social Services are so important.
• What 20 years of Extra Special Parents has taught Richard about leadership, relationships and responsibility.

Success begins with the child

For Richard, the first measure of success is whether a child can safely return to their family and remain there.

Foster care is intended to provide care and stability during a difficult period in a family's life, not necessarily to become a permanent arrangement.

When the circumstances that led to a child's removal can be addressed, a safe and lasting reunification is an outcome worth celebrating.

When returning home is not possible, Richard discusses the importance of finding a permanent family through adoption, with careful consideration given to the needs of the child and the strengths of the prospective parents.

He also challenges the expectation that families should be searching for a perfect child, reminding listeners that every child is an individual with their own experiences, needs and personality.

Success for foster parents

Richard then considers the journey of someone who is thinking about fostering for the very first time.

From that initial online enquiry to training, assessment and eventually welcoming a child into their home, becoming a foster parent is a significant commitment.

At Extra Special Parents, Richard describes an approval process that typically takes around 120 days, although individual circumstances and readiness can affect the timeline.

He explains why he would rather see a prospective foster parent take the time they need to feel prepared