Children and Families

Governor Glenn Youngkin is committed to ensuring that Virginia’s children and families have the resources and support they need to thrive. Through key initiatives, the administration is strengthening child welfare, expanding kinship care, and addressing critical challenges faced by high-needs youth in foster care. By prioritizing family-centered care, stability, and systemic reforms, these efforts aim to create a safer, more supportive environment for children across the Commonwealth.

In addition, Virginia offers a range of resources to support children and families, from behavioral health services to maternal health care and fentanyl prevention. Families can find valuable information and assistance through the following initiatives:

Right Help, Right Now – Transforming Virginia’s behavioral health system to ensure same-day crisis care and comprehensive mental health support.
It Only Takes One – A fentanyl awareness initiative empowering parents and youth to prevent accidental overdoses.
Reclaiming Childhood – Addressing social media harms and promoting healthier screen habits to improve youth mental health.
Maternal Health – Enhancing maternal care and reducing mortality through expanded access and community engagement.

Kinship Care

Governor Glenn Youngkin is committed to strengthening kinship care in Virginia, ensuring that children in crisis can remain with family whenever possible. In May 2024, the Governor signed House Bill 27 and Senate Bill 39, creating the Parental Child Safety Placement Program and codifying Virginia’s “Kin First” approach to child welfare.

These reforms provide a clear framework for local departments of social services to prioritize placing children with relatives, leading to better stability, mental health, and long-term outcomes. The legislation also mandates exception reports, service plans, and financial support for kinship caregivers — helping families meet the needs of children in their care.

With these changes, Virginia is taking a major step forward in ensuring children grow up in safe, loving, and familiar environments, reducing the trauma of multiple placements and strengthening family connections.

Learn more about Virginia’s Kinship Care reforms in the Governor's press release.

Safe and Sound

The Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources is leading efforts to transform the state’s child welfare system, with a focus on improving outcomes for high-needs youth in foster care. To address the urgent issue of children being placed in inappropriate environments, such as offices or hotels, Governor Youngkin established the Safe and Sound Task Force in April 2022. This initiative is driving significant change across the Commonwealth by creating safe, stable homes for displaced youth, expanding kinship care options, and implementing critical policy reforms to close systemic gaps. These efforts reflect the administration’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that every child in Virginia has access to a secure, supportive environment.

For questions or more information about the Safe and Sound Task Force contact HealthAndHumanResources@governor.virginia.gov