Blog Archive: February 2021

The 2021 General Assembly is coming to a close with good news for children and families. While the last year has produced tremendous disruptions and up and downs for families,…

In the 2020 legislative session, a number of key advancements were made for children and families in foster care, however these investments were almost all put on hold due to…

The 2020 Census has come and passed, but the data and results from the surveys are still being tabulated. Last spring and summer, Census officials worked diligently to make sure…

The Speaker of the House Eileen Filler-Corn has introduced HB2206 to create a new short-term eligibility category for parents seeking financial assistance to afford child care. This legislation passed the…

In Virginia, 20 percent of children experience two or more adverse childhood experiences. However, the pandemic as a trauma layered with economic trauma and social injustices creates complex traumas that…

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented great challenges including economic downturn. In 2020, funding for initiatives were eliminated or paused in response to the crisis. The Senate Finance Committee on the…

Economic Supports for Family and Children In 2019, over 245,000 children in Virginia experienced poverty. However, COVID-19 further widens racial and ethnic disparities in stable employment and food security. The…

In a year with extraordinary budgetary challenges, the House and Senate “money committees” released their recommended changes to the Governor’s proposed budget on February 10. In good news, they retained…

Black History Month is described as an annual celebration of the achievements of Black Americans. It is a time to recognize the prominent role in the creation of United States…

Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise” is a powerful poem that draws on a range of influences, including her personal background and the African American experience in the United States. Its message of…