Blog Category: Child Welfare

Lack of Investments for Child Welfare During Special Session

The coronavirus pandemic makes it even more challenging than the usual for day-to-day care given by  foster and kinship caregivers, and child welfare professionals. Many of these children have experienced…

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2020 Special Session Priorities

The last five months have been disruptive for children and families in Virginia. Children and parents are facing challenges, hardship and trauma that will impact them for a lifetime. Financial,…

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Advocating for Improvements to Child Welfare in Special Session

The corona virus pandemic makes it even more challenging than the usual for day-to-day care given by  foster and kinship caregivers, and child welfare professionals. Many of these children have…

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Federal Action Needed for Virginia Foster Care Reforms

As a nation we have all felt slightly out of control of our lives for the past few months, a lot like children and families involved in the child welfare…

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Faces of the Frontline: Shana Lynch, Sr. Family Services Specialist

Each morning, Shana Lynch wakes up to go to work as a family services specialist for Virginia’s child welfare system. She drives from her home in Eastern Henrico to the…

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Social Workers are the Forgotten First Responders

By Sophia Booker As a person with lived experiences with mental health challenges, this is an extremely difficult time for me. The fear, anxiety, hyper vigilance, and feelings others are…

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The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act In Your Community

The CARES Act was signed into law on March 27th to create a $2 trillion economic stimulus efforts for business, health care, communities, and families. Implementing the CARES Act will…

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COVID 19 – Virginia Foster Care Policy Recommendations

The Foster Care Policy Network is comprised of partners from across the Commonwealth who represent policy advocates, service providers, parents and caregivers, and—most especially—youth to identify key legislative opportunities to…

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Foster Care Alumae Need Housing as Colleges Close

In the last 24 hours, Voices’ has learned that many Virginia colleges and universities are closing to protect the health and well-being of students because of the COVID- 19 pandemic….

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Continued Momentum: Foster Care in the 2020 Legislative Session

In 2019, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission on foster care study revealed Virginia’s longstanding failings in Virginia’s foster care system. It showed a lack of adherence to requirements…

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