On May 23rd, Voices participated in a press conference to respond to Governor McDonnell’s veto of SB 217 (Sen. Barker), a bill that would have removed barriers to school enrollment for children living in informal kinship care arrangements. Voices is deeply disappointed in the Governor’s veto of this bill, which represented a great deal of consensus (leaving the legislature for the Governor’s desk nearly unanimously). The bill generated vocal, passionate bipartisan support, and was championed by a wide array of organizations driven by their care for Virginia’s children and families.

Voices, in conjunction with our partner, the Virginia Poverty Law Center, released a statement responding to the veto and emphasizing the need for Virginia to address barriers to kinship care arrangements so that children can still see a clear path to educational success, even if their families are experiencing a crisis.

Please read our full press release here.

 

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