Virginia is for Children is located in Chesterfield County. We primarily serve all counties in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Virginia is for Children, a newly formed organization serving all counties of Virginia, invites the Virginia community to participate in its organizational efforts to make changes to the legislation that involves the protection and safety of children. Recent studies reveal that children are not being protected when they disclose abuse, particularly in child custody cases and divorce cases in family court rooms across Virginia. Recent research suggests that the solutions to these problems include new policies and new legislation.
While this is a social problem that affects children across the entire nation, Virginia is for Children is focusing its efforts on the Virginia community and Virginia’s children. This is an invitation to all mothers, lawyers, judges, school personnel, police officers, social workers, psychologists and concerned citizens who want to see the safety of our children as a number one priority. Please contact us at [email protected] for more information about how you can help to protect children.
Virginia is for Children is focusing on educating legislators that the problem exists, is real, and people are suffering because of the consequences of family court decisions. Families are being separated, children are being sent to live with abusers, and protective parents are being prohibited from facilitating medical care or counseling to children who have experienced numerous family life traumas.
If you have been involved in a situation described above, please contact us at [email protected]. Virginia legislators are open and willing to listen to your stories in order to make effective change to the current legislation. Similarly, if you are an attorney, judge, psychologist or other professional who has become involved in these family law cases with factors of domestic violence and/or child abuse present, and are frustrated with the outcomes, please contact us at [email protected].
The specific laws that we intend to propose changes to include: § 20-124.3. Best interests of the child; visitation, § 20-124.2. Court-ordered custody and visitation arrangements and legislation concerning the abuse of children, § 16.1-278.15. Custody or visitation, child or spousal support generally, § 9.1-153. Volunteer court-appointed special advocates; powers and duties; assignment; qualifications; training, § 20-103. Court may make orders pending suit for divorce, custody or visitation, etc., § 22.1-291.3. Notice of duty to report child abuse or neglect., § 32.1-127.1:04. Use or disclosure of certain protected health information required, § 63.2-1502. Establishment of Child-Protective Services Unit; duties, § 63.2-1503. Local departments to establish child-protective services; duties, § 63.2-1504. Child-protective services differential response system, § 63.2-1505. Investigations by local departments, § 63.2-1506. Family assessments by local departments, § 63.2-1507. Cooperation by state entities, § 63.2-1508. Valid report or complaint, § 63.2-1509. Requirement that certain injuries to children be reported by physicians, nurses, teachers, etc.; penalty for failure to report, § 63.2-1510. Complaints by others of certain injuries to children, § 63.2-1513. Knowingly making false reports; penalties, § 63.2-1514. Retention of records in all reports; procedures regarding unfounded reports alleged to be made in bad faith or with malicious intent, § 63.2-1516. Tape recording child abuse investigations, § 63.2-1516.01. Investigation procedures involving person who is the subject of complaint, § 63.2-1520. Photographs and X-rays of child; use as evidence, § 63.2-1530. Virginia Child Protection Accountability System, § 63.2-1731. Retaliation against reports of child or adult abuse or neglect, § 63.2-2100. Creation of fund, § 63.2-2101. Members of Board; terms; vacancies; meetings, § 63.2-2102. Powers and duties of the Board of Trustees.
Additionally, similar to § 54.1-3013.1: Nursing education programs to include child abuse recognition and intervention, we will be advocating for similar legislation implemented that requires Virginia judges, attorneys, police officers and social services workers to receive education and training on domestic violence, child abuse, and child sexual abuse recognition and intervention. Many police departments in counties throughout the state have yet to implement a child sexual abuse protocol for protecting children in these incidences.
According to the Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia, new judges receive an hour to an hour and a half at pre-bench training and are provided with a manual, Domestic and Sexual Violence Reference Manual for District Court Judges. Judges also have the option of attending special plenary sessions at the annual judicial conference each year. Some of the presenters of these plenary sessions on domestic violence and sexual abuse are Teena Grodner, Judge from Fairfax Co. J&DR, Robert Murphy, Executive Director of the Center for Child and Family Health at Duke University Medical Center, Uley Damiani, Judge in Alexandria J&DR, Dr. Keith Fender, School of Social Work at Radford University, Lee Satterfield, Judge of Superior Court in Washington, DC, Jannette Tucker, Senior Attorney in Family Violence Department of National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ), Steven Dalle Mura and Eileen Smith, from the Legal Research Department from the Office of the Executive Secretary in the Supreme Court of Virginia, Debra Bryan, Judge in Virginia Beach J&DR, and Susan Goldsticker-Hooks, Deputy Commonwealth Attorney, Virginia Beach.
As you can see, none of these trainers are domestic violence and child sexual assault advocates or experts. These trainers are mostly judges, attorneys and researchers in the legal or social work fields. Therefore, judges are not being trained about the cycle of abuse and the way that abusers use the court system to inflict further emotional abuse on his victims.
In other areas of the country, Erin’s Law, a law designed to protect children from child sexual abuse by requiring the implementation of child sexual abuse education programs in all K-12 public schools throughout each state, is gathering momentum. To date, Erin’s Law, has been signed into law in twenty-three (23) states. Virginia has yet to enact this bill into legislation. Virginia is for Children, along with other children’s organizations, will be advocating for the introduction of a version of Erin’s Law in the next legislative session of the Virginia General Assembly.
We are open to your ideas and suggestions, and urge your participation, too. If you are a Virginia mother and have a story you would like to share about the family court system that we can share with our Virginia legislators, please contact us at [email protected]. If you are an attorney or other professional who have been frustrated with the treatment of women and children in the family court system, please contact us as well.
Virginia is for Children is a Virginia-based organization dedicated to the improvement of the safety and development of Virginia’s children through education, advocacy and legislation. Through educational, research, advocacy and legislative work, Virginia is for Children gives children, and parents of children, a voice to speak out against domestic violence and sexual assault. We are currently working to pass legislation, called Erin's Law, in all 50 states. Erin's Law will provide education and training in all public schools around the country (to K-12 students) about sexual assault, warning signs, and ways that children can protect themselves against sexual assault. It also provides professionals with training on believing the child, and taking the appropriate steps to protect a child who discloses to a trusted adult. We are also working toward educating and training attorneys, judges, legal professionals, psychological professionals, first responders and other professionals that encounter mothers and children who have been impacted by domestic and sexual violence. Our aim is to change a current legal system in which children are removed from loving parents and placed within the custody of child abusers. Erin's Law has been passed in 23 states, and Illinois was the first state to pass it. Erin's Law is named after Erin Merryn, who is a sexual assault survivor. We also will be conducting research about the legal practices impacting children in the State of Virginia. Our goal is to better protect Virginia's children from domestic and sexual assault, while providing the tools and skills necessary to maintaining a cohesive familial unit. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/Virginia-Is-For-Children-LLC/412192505582391?sk=timeline or contact Kerry O’Brien Smith at [email protected].
Virginia is for Children, a newly formed organization serving all counties of Virginia, invites the Virginia community to participate in its organizational efforts to make changes to the legislation that involves the protection and safety of children. Recent studies reveal that children are not being protected when they disclose abuse, particularly in child custody cases and divorce cases in family court rooms across Virginia. Recent research suggests that the solutions to these problems include new policies and new legislation.
While this is a social problem that affects children across the entire nation, Virginia is for Children is focusing its efforts on the Virginia community and Virginia’s children. This is an invitation to all mothers, lawyers, judges, school personnel, police officers, social workers, psychologists and concerned citizens who want to see the safety of our children as a number one priority. Please contact us at [email protected] for more information about how you can help to protect children.
Virginia is for Children is focusing on educating legislators that the problem exists, is real, and people are suffering because of the consequences of family court decisions. Families are being separated, children are being sent to live with abusers, and protective parents are being prohibited from facilitating medical care or counseling to children who have experienced numerous family life traumas.
If you have been involved in a situation described above, please contact us at [email protected]. Virginia legislators are open and willing to listen to your stories in order to make effective change to the current legislation. Similarly, if you are an attorney, judge, psychologist or other professional who has become involved in these family law cases with factors of domestic violence and/or child abuse present, and are frustrated with the outcomes, please contact us at [email protected].
The specific laws that we intend to propose changes to include: § 20-124.3. Best interests of the child; visitation, § 20-124.2. Court-ordered custody and visitation arrangements and legislation concerning the abuse of children, § 16.1-278.15. Custody or visitation, child or spousal support generally, § 9.1-153. Volunteer court-appointed special advocates; powers and duties; assignment; qualifications; training, § 20-103. Court may make orders pending suit for divorce, custody or visitation, etc., § 22.1-291.3. Notice of duty to report child abuse or neglect., § 32.1-127.1:04. Use or disclosure of certain protected health information required, § 63.2-1502. Establishment of Child-Protective Services Unit; duties, § 63.2-1503. Local departments to establish child-protective services; duties, § 63.2-1504. Child-protective services differential response system, § 63.2-1505. Investigations by local departments, § 63.2-1506. Family assessments by local departments, § 63.2-1507. Cooperation by state entities, § 63.2-1508. Valid report or complaint, § 63.2-1509. Requirement that certain injuries to children be reported by physicians, nurses, teachers, etc.; penalty for failure to report, § 63.2-1510. Complaints by others of certain injuries to children, § 63.2-1513. Knowingly making false reports; penalties, § 63.2-1514. Retention of records in all reports; procedures regarding unfounded reports alleged to be made in bad faith or with malicious intent, § 63.2-1516. Tape recording child abuse investigations, § 63.2-1516.01. Investigation procedures involving person who is the subject of complaint, § 63.2-1520. Photographs and X-rays of child; use as evidence, § 63.2-1530. Virginia Child Protection Accountability System, § 63.2-1731. Retaliation against reports of child or adult abuse or neglect, § 63.2-2100. Creation of fund, § 63.2-2101. Members of Board; terms; vacancies; meetings, § 63.2-2102. Powers and duties of the Board of Trustees.
Additionally, similar to § 54.1-3013.1: Nursing education programs to include child abuse recognition and intervention, we will be advocating for similar legislation implemented that requires Virginia judges, attorneys, police officers and social services workers to receive education and training on domestic violence, child abuse, and child sexual abuse recognition and intervention. Many police departments in counties throughout the state have yet to implement a child sexual abuse protocol for protecting children in these incidences.
According to the Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia, new judges receive an hour to an hour and a half at pre-bench training and are provided with a manual, Domestic and Sexual Violence Reference Manual for District Court Judges. Judges also have the option of attending special plenary sessions at the annual judicial conference each year. Some of the presenters of these plenary sessions on domestic violence and sexual abuse are Teena Grodner, Judge from Fairfax Co. J&DR, Robert Murphy, Executive Director of the Center for Child and Family Health at Duke University Medical Center, Uley Damiani, Judge in Alexandria J&DR, Dr. Keith Fender, School of Social Work at Radford University, Lee Satterfield, Judge of Superior Court in Washington, DC, Jannette Tucker, Senior Attorney in Family Violence Department of National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ), Steven Dalle Mura and Eileen Smith, from the Legal Research Department from the Office of the Executive Secretary in the Supreme Court of Virginia, Debra Bryan, Judge in Virginia Beach J&DR, and Susan Goldsticker-Hooks, Deputy Commonwealth Attorney, Virginia Beach.
As you can see, none of these trainers are domestic violence and child sexual assault advocates or experts. These trainers are mostly judges, attorneys and researchers in the legal or social work fields. Therefore, judges are not being trained about the cycle of abuse and the way that abusers use the court system to inflict further emotional abuse on his victims.
In other areas of the country, Erin’s Law, a law designed to protect children from child sexual abuse by requiring the implementation of child sexual abuse education programs in all K-12 public schools throughout each state, is gathering momentum. To date, Erin’s Law, has been signed into law in twenty-three (23) states. Virginia has yet to enact this bill into legislation. Virginia is for Children, along with other children’s organizations, will be advocating for the introduction of a version of Erin’s Law in the next legislative session of the Virginia General Assembly.
We are open to your ideas and suggestions, and urge your participation, too. If you are a Virginia mother and have a story you would like to share about the family court system that we can share with our Virginia legislators, please contact us at [email protected]. If you are an attorney or other professional who have been frustrated with the treatment of women and children in the family court system, please contact us as well.
Virginia is for Children is a Virginia-based organization dedicated to the improvement of the safety and development of Virginia’s children through education, advocacy and legislation. Through educational, research, advocacy and legislative work, Virginia is for Children gives children, and parents of children, a voice to speak out against domestic violence and sexual assault. We are currently working to pass legislation, called Erin's Law, in all 50 states. Erin's Law will provide education and training in all public schools around the country (to K-12 students) about sexual assault, warning signs, and ways that children can protect themselves against sexual assault. It also provides professionals with training on believing the child, and taking the appropriate steps to protect a child who discloses to a trusted adult. We are also working toward educating and training attorneys, judges, legal professionals, psychological professionals, first responders and other professionals that encounter mothers and children who have been impacted by domestic and sexual violence. Our aim is to change a current legal system in which children are removed from loving parents and placed within the custody of child abusers. Erin's Law has been passed in 23 states, and Illinois was the first state to pass it. Erin's Law is named after Erin Merryn, who is a sexual assault survivor. We also will be conducting research about the legal practices impacting children in the State of Virginia. Our goal is to better protect Virginia's children from domestic and sexual assault, while providing the tools and skills necessary to maintaining a cohesive familial unit. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/Virginia-Is-For-Children-LLC/412192505582391?sk=timeline or contact Kerry O’Brien Smith at [email protected].