Virginia

Virginia’s foster youth now have an official watchdog. In June, Gov. Ralph Northam appointed a director of the Office of Children’s Ombudsman.

Since the U.S. legalized same-sex marriage in 2015, several states have passed laws allowing publicly funded child welfare organizations to exclude millions of LGBTQ adults as potential foster parents. This, combined with a Trump administration executive order on religious liberty, is cause for concern over the future of child welfare programs, according to a new policy brief from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC).

When the Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities released its groundbreaking report this past March, it helped launch a national dialogue about child safety, and most importantly, shifted the current narrative around maltreatment-related fatalities in a significant way.

The report summarizes current evidence-based techniques for treating children, including juvenile offenders, with mental health disorders, symptoms and mental health treatment needs. The collection of information is intended for all educators, service providers, parents, caregivers, and others seeking information on evidence-based mental health practices for youth.

Around 6 a.m. on Jan. 21, three former foster youth bundled up in their warmest clothes and headed to the nation’s capitol to witness the inaugural celebration of President Barack Obama.