Commission on Youth Skip to content Latest Updates Commission Brochure Collection of Evidence-based Practices for Children and Adolescents with Mental Health Treatment Needs, 10th Edition Foster Care 101 Quick links Subscribe to our Mailing List Commission on Youth Staff Search Commission Reports Virginia General Assembly Please email us at aatkinson@vcoy.virginia.gov if you have comments, questions or suggestions for the Virginia Commission on Youth. Virginia Commission on Youth Old City Hall 1001 E. Broad St., Suite 302 Richmond, Virginia 23219 View our View our Freedom of Information Act Policy A Message from the Chair The Honorable Barbara A. Favola, Senate of Virginia It is my pleasure as Chair of the General Assembly’s Commission on Youth to welcome you to our website. The Commission on Youth is tasked with providing a forum for review and study of youth policies and services. Whether you are a member or staff of the General Assembly, a government official, service provider, educator, parent or caregiver, or interested member of the public, you will find this website a wonderful resource on the Commission’s work on a host of issues, from child welfare to juvenile justice, or from mental health to education. Children matter to policymakers in Virginia. Almost 2 million young people age 0-18 live in our state. This number represents almost 25% of our state’s population. Correspondingly, a significant percentage of our state budget goes directly to services for these youth and their families. Given the size of this population and the breadth of special needs associated with young people and their families, Virginia is fortunate to have the Commission on Youth to provide guidance and leadership on youth policy issues. I encourage you to familiarize yourself with our work and to let us know whenever we can be of assistance to your child, family or community. Announcements 2026 Commission Meetings - View Meeting handouts or visit the Meetings link. The Virginia Commission on Youth will be holding meetings at the following dates and times: May 20, 2026 at 10:30 a.m.; Location: Senate Committee Room A, General Assembly Building – Full Commission on Youth Meeting August 18, 2026 at 10:30 a.m.; Location: Senate Committee Room A, General Assembly Building – Full Commission on Youth Meeting September 22, 2026 at 10:30 a.m.; Location: Senate Committee Room A, General Assembly Building – Full Commission on Youth Meeting October 20, 2026 at 1:30 p.m.; Location: Senate Committee Room A, General Assembly Building – Full Commission on Youth Meeting In the News 10/22/2025 Commission adopts study to improve Va.’s special education compliance system 07/09/2025 Report outlines challenges of Va.’s special education compliance system, recommends improvements 02/26/2025 Virginia’s Custody Crisis: What are we seeing here? Asking the experts. 02/25/2025 Virginia’s Custody Crisis: Why are parents giving up their kids and solutions to help families 02/21/2025 Virginia’s Custody Crisis: A WSLS 10 special on parents giving up their kids 11/25/2024 Out-of-school time program pitches importance to Virginia legislative committee 11/19/2024 More parents are giving up their kids in this part of Virginia 06/26/2024 Parents express frustrations, say Virginia special education system is 'profoundly flawed' 11/21/2023 State Commission on Youth recommends training academy for social service workers 11/20/2023 Virginia officials aim to reduce reliance on foster care 11/07/2023 State Commission on Youth considering recommending changes to foster care system 03/17/2023 Alumni Changemaker: Amy Atkinson serves the commonwealth's youth and families 09/07/2022 Commission on Youth members, Delegate Brewer, Tata, and Durant with Transition to Adulthood Advisory Group members Kathy and Hannah Roberts 07/26/2022 State panel takes closer look at juvenile detention centers 06/03/2022 Commission Members, Senator Barbara Favola and Delegate Carrie Coyner, honored with the Virginia Promise in Action Legislative Award. Pictured left to right: Senator Todd Pillion, Delegate David Bulova,  Senator Barbara Favola, Governor Glenn Youngkin, Delegate Carrie Coyner, Delegate Roxann Robinson, Senator T. Montgomery Mason, and James Dyke. 02/26/2022 We can improve outcomes for children in foster care by investing in quality legal representation for their parents 01/28/2022 Keys To Destination For Youth In Foster Care 02/06/2020 Lawmakers Want to Help Foster Care Youth Get Driver’s Licenses 12/04/2019 New Regulations on Restraint and Seclusion in Public Schools Headed to Governor 11/04/2019 This Week in Richmond: Commission on Youth and foster care 05/06/2019 Looking toward 2020, Virginia lawmakers double down on foster care reform 12/06/2018 Del. Dickie Bell elected chair of Virginia Commission on Youth 10/03/2018 Most teens who age out of foster care have trouble getting a driver’s license and it affects everything they do 09/27/2018 Should abuse allegations against teachers be subject to a higher standard of proof? 06/06/2018 Va. Commission on Youth looks at role of school resource officers 02/23/2018 Va. Governor Signs 2 Teacher Child Abuse Notification Laws After I-Team Report 02/23/2018 New laws aim to protect students from sex predators in school 01/25/2018 Va. Senate Approves House Bills on Teachers Who Abuse Kids 01/06/2018 Addressing childhood adversity now will deliver a brighter future 12/14/2017 Va. Lawmakers Propose Shorter Appeals for Accused Teachers 11/09/2017 Statewide Survey Aims To Improve Foster Care System 09/22/2017 Virginia Leaders Debate Changing Laws to Better Remove Teachers Accused of Misconduct 05/24/2017 Richmond Seminar Focuses on Lasting Impacts of Childhood Trauma 05/24/2017 Experts Speak to State Commission on Preventing Childhood Trauma in Virginia 12/06/2016 Commission on Youth Elects Chair and Vice Chair 08/03/2016 Family Services Nonprofit Begins Pilot Program for Foster-Like Care 08/03/2016 'Safe Families' to Help Families in Crisis 08/03/2016 Patrick Henry Services Offering New Program 05/31/2016 Governor's Bill Signing for Student-Athlete Concussion Legislation - Photo Gallery 05/03/2016 VA Leaders, Groups Work to Improve Care for Foster Youth 04/15/2016 Celebrating the Week of the Young Child 02/08/2016 Commission on Youth Legislation to Address Student-Athlete Concussion Protocol Advances 12/12/2015 Virginia Awakening to Campus Drug Problems, Looking for Solutions 12/08/2015 Virginia Lawmakers Hear Proposals Combating Substance Abuse 10/20/2015 Lawmakers Discuss Ways to Tackle Student Athlete Concussion 09/22/2015 Virginia Commission Sees Progress with Student Athlete Concussions 05/06/2015 State Reviews Child Mental Health Practices 05/05/2015 Commission Meeting Focuses on Sex Trafficking and Foster Children 02/15/2015 Stories of trauma prompt crackdown on seclusion rooms 02/10/2015 Virginia Passes Bill to Rein in Restraints of School Kids 02/02/2015 How Public School Administrators Endanger Special-Needs Kids 01/31/2015 Child Care Must Grow Safer 01/29/2015 Commission on Youth Announces Passage of Legislation 01/08/2015 Bill Might Halt Handcuffs on Kids 12/17/2014 A Good Move for Families Op-Ed 12/10/2014 Children Are Our Greatest Treasure Op-Ed 12/10/2014 Governor McAuliffe Announces $17.5 Million Federal Preschool Expansion Grant 11/20/2014 Virginia Department of Social Services' video on Virginia Adopts 09/08/2014 Commission on Youth's Adoption of 2014 Study Recommendations 08/15/2014 Commission on Youth Reviews Controversial School Disciplinary Practice 07/18/2014 Schools Deal with Behavior Problems 06/22/2014 Focus on Young Children