New Virginia Laws Prioritize Kinship Care Placements

Virginia is implementing new laws to prioritize the use of kinship care for youth removed from their homes by child protective services. The legislation for this new approach, House Bill 27 and Senate Bill 39 were signed into law on Tuesday May 21, 2024. They established the Kinship as Foster Care Prevention Program which creates a framework for local departments of social services (DSS) to place children with their families and relatives. The legislation establishes a foster care prevention program that directs services and financial assistance to parents and kinship caregivers so that more children can remain with family and . . .