Virginia: Foster Care Rights

About this resource

While Virginia does not have a formal Foster Youth Bill of Rights, the Department of Social Services (DSS) outlines important rights for youth in a youth rights acknowledgement form. These include the right to safety, education, health care, participation in court and planning, sibling contact, and access to personal documents at age 18.

Youth also have the right to appeal service decisions, access annual credit reports, and take part in planning for a successful transition to adulthood.

If your rights are not being respected, talk with your Family Services Specialist. For unresolved issues, you can contact the Office of the Children's Ombudsman or the DSS Customer Relations Unit:  1-800-552-3431 [email protected]