2023 Legislative Mandates and Initiatives

Collection of Evidence-based Practices for Children and Adolescents with Mental Health Treatment Needs

The Virginia Commission on Youth is directed to:

  • Revise the Collection of Evidence-based Practices for Children and Adolescents with Mental Health Treatment Needs (the “Collection”). The Collection is to be revised biennially pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 358 (2003).
  • Seek the assistance of the Collection Update Advisory Group, Secretary of Health and Human Resources, Secretary of Public Safety, and Secretary of Education in posting, maintaining, and biennially updating the Collection.
  • Make the Collection available through web technologies.
  • Develop a cost-effective and efficient dissemination method to allow for easy access to the information.

Study Plan

Improving Foster Care in Virginia

  • During the 2020 Virginia General Assembly Session, the Commission on Youth introduced legislation and budget amendments and made recommendations on how to improve Virginia’s foster care system.
  • These recommendations for improving Virginia’s foster care system focused on the areas of workforce recruitment and retention, kinship care, foster family recruitment and retention, and programs to support youth as they transition from foster care to adulthood.
  • Since 2020, Virginia has implemented bipartisan improvements to the foster care system. Additionally, Governor Youngkin created the Safe and Sound Task force to bring together state and local government agencies, elected officials, the faith community, and community partners to create safe and appropriate housing placements for children in foster care.
  • In order to continue engaging in efforts to improve Virginia’s foster care system the Commission on Youth will work with agencies and stakeholders as follows:
    • Organize different topic area work groups to discuss and develop recommendations on workforce retention, liability insurance for foster care agencies, and foster care family recruitment and retention.
    • Support and participate in the Virginia Department of Social Services’ working group to implement a statewide driver's licensing program.
    • Support and participate in the Office on Children’s Ombudsman study of legal representation in child dependency cases.
    • Analyze and review on-going agency efforts and recent recommendations on the following: having a foster care point of contact at institutions of higher education, housing for aging out foster care youth, iFoster implementation, and workforce programs for foster care and special education foster care youth.

Study Plan

Admission of Minors to a Mental Health Facility for Inpatient Treatment

  • In a letter dated April 1, 2023, Delegate Rob B. Bell, Chair of the House Courts of Justice Committee, requested that the Commission on Youth review House Bill 1923, Minors; admission to mental health facility for inpatient treatment (Tata) and the concepts it addresses and make recommendations for the 2024 Session of the General Assembly.

Study Plan