{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/2.2-445.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/2.2-445.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/2.2-445.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/2.2-445.html"}],"law_id":59527,"edition_id":1,"section_id":59527,"structure_id":14132,"section_number":"2.2-445","catch_line":"Department and child-placing agency; duties; information to be provided to biological parent, adoptive parent, or foster parent; access to departmental computer networks","history":"2020, c. 1090; 2023, c. 750; 2024, c. 280; 2025, cc. 200, 223.","full_text":"A\n\nThe Department or local department, a children’s residential facility, and a child-placing agency shall do all of the following:1\n\nUpon the Ombudsman’s request, grant the Ombudsman or the Office access to all information, records, and documents in the possession of the Department or local department, children’s residential facility, or child-placing agency that the Ombudsman considers relevant and necessary in an investigation.2\n\nAssist the Ombudsman or the Office to obtain the necessary releases of those documents that are specifically restricted.3\n\nUpon the Ombudsman’s request, provide the Ombudsman or the Office with progress reports concerning the administrative processing of a complaint.4\n\nUpon the Ombudsman’s request, provide the Ombudsman or the Office the information requested under subdivision 1 or notification within 10 business days after the request that the Department or local department has determined that release of the information would violate federal or state law.5\n\nUpon the Ombudsman’s request, grant access and provide consent to interview children in foster care who are the subject of or the complainant in an investigation.B\n\nThe Department or local department, a children’s residential facility, and a child-placing agency shall provide the Office’s contact information along with information regarding the provisions of this chapter to a biological parent, prospective adoptive parent, or foster parent.\n\t\t\tThe Department or local department, a children’s residential facility, and a child-placing agency shall also provide the Office’s contact information along with information regarding the provisions of this chapter to any child in foster care age 12 or older upon the opening of a foster care case for such child. If a child turns the age of 12 while in foster care, such child shall be provided the information required by this paragraph on or about his twelfth birthday. Each such child shall receive such required notification annually as long as such child remains in foster care.C\n\nThe Ombudsman and the Office shall have access, in the Ombudsman’s own office, to departmental computer networks pertaining to protective services, foster care, adoption, juvenile delinquency, and the central registry, unless otherwise prohibited by state or federal law or if the release of the information to the Ombudsman would jeopardize federal funding. The cost of implementing this subsection shall be negotiated among the Office and the custodians of such networks.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":218091,"text":"The Department or local department, a children’s residential facility, and a child-placing agency shall do all of the following:","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A1"},"1":{"id":218092,"text":"Upon the Ombudsman’s request, grant the Ombudsman or the Office access to all information, records, and documents in the possession of the Department or local department, children’s residential facility, or child-placing agency that the Ombudsman considers relevant and necessary in an investigation.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"A1","prefix_anchor":"A1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A2"},"2":{"id":218093,"text":"Assist the Ombudsman or the Office to obtain the necessary releases of those documents that are specifically restricted.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A1","next_prefix":"A3"},"3":{"id":218094,"text":"Upon the Ombudsman’s request, provide the Ombudsman or the Office with progress reports concerning the administrative processing of a complaint.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"A3","prefix_anchor":"A3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A2","next_prefix":"A4"},"4":{"id":218095,"text":"Upon the Ombudsman’s request, provide the Ombudsman or the Office the information requested under subdivision 1 or notification within 10 business days after the request that the Department or local department has determined that release of the information would violate federal or state law.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"A4","prefix_anchor":"A4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A3","next_prefix":"A5"},"5":{"id":218096,"text":"Upon the Ombudsman’s request, grant access and provide consent to interview children in foster care who are the subject of or the complainant in an investigation.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"A5","prefix_anchor":"A5","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A4","next_prefix":"B"},"6":{"id":218097,"text":"The Department or local department, a children’s residential facility, and a child-placing agency shall provide the Office’s contact information along with information regarding the provisions of this chapter to a biological parent, prospective adoptive parent, or foster parent.\n\t\t\tThe Department or local department, a children’s residential facility, and a child-placing agency shall also provide the Office’s contact information along with information regarding the provisions of this chapter to any child in foster care age 12 or older upon the opening of a foster care case for such child. If a child turns the age of 12 while in foster care, such child shall be provided the information required by this paragraph on or about his twelfth birthday. Each such child shall receive such required notification annually as long as such child remains in foster care.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A5","next_prefix":"C"},"7":{"id":218098,"text":"The Ombudsman and the Office shall have access, in the Ombudsman’s own office, to departmental computer networks pertaining to protective services, foster care, adoption, juvenile delinquency, and the central registry, unless otherwise prohibited by state or federal law or if the release of the information to the Ombudsman would jeopardize federal funding. The cost of implementing this subsection shall be negotiated among the Office and the custodians of such networks.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14132,"edition_id":1,"name":"Office of the Children's Ombudsman","identifier":"4.4","label":"chapter","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13132,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:58","permalink":{"id":172251,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14132,"identifier":"4.4","token":"2.2\/I\/A\/4.4","url":"\/2.2\/I\/A\/4.4\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13132,"edition_id":1,"name":"Office of the Governor","identifier":"A","label":"part","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12784,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:19","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:19","permalink":{"id":171457,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13132,"identifier":"A","token":"2.2\/I\/A","url":"\/2.2\/I\/A\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12784,"edition_id":1,"name":"Organization of State Government","identifier":"I","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12749,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","permalink":{"id":171455,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12784,"identifier":"I","token":"2.2\/I","url":"\/2.2\/I\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12749,"edition_id":1,"name":"Administration of Government","identifier":"2.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":171453,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12749,"identifier":"2.2","token":"2.2","url":"\/2.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":82383,"structure_id":14132,"section_number":"2.2-438","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/2.2-438\/","token":"2.2\/I\/A\/4.4\/2.2-438","metadata":false},{"id":58926,"structure_id":14132,"section_number":"2.2-439","catch_line":"Children's Ombudsman; establishment; appointment; removal","url":"\/2.2-439\/","token":"2.2\/I\/A\/4.4\/2.2-439","metadata":false},{"id":65867,"structure_id":14132,"section_number":"2.2-440","catch_line":"Procedures; training; notification of safety concerns.","url":"\/2.2-440\/","token":"2.2\/I\/A\/4.4\/2.2-440","metadata":false},{"id":55274,"structure_id":14132,"section_number":"2.2-441","catch_line":"Individuals making complaint to Children's Ombudsman","url":"\/2.2-441\/","token":"2.2\/I\/A\/4.4\/2.2-441","metadata":false},{"id":56251,"structure_id":14132,"section_number":"2.2-442","catch_line":"Children's Ombudsman; powers and duties","url":"\/2.2-442\/","token":"2.2\/I\/A\/4.4\/2.2-442","metadata":false},{"id":57255,"structure_id":14132,"section_number":"2.2-443","catch_line":"Abused or neglected children; children receiving child-protective services, in foster care, or placed for adoption; powers of Children's Ombudsman; child fatality cases; investigation","url":"\/2.2-443\/","token":"2.2\/I\/A\/4.4\/2.2-443","metadata":false},{"id":63429,"structure_id":14132,"section_number":"2.2-444","catch_line":"Decision to investigate; notice; pursuing administrative remedies or channels of complaint; further investigation; violation of state or federal criminal law; complaint against child-placing agency; petition requesting court jurisdiction or termination of parental rights","url":"\/2.2-444\/","token":"2.2\/I\/A\/4.4\/2.2-444","metadata":false},{"id":59527,"structure_id":14132,"section_number":"2.2-445","catch_line":"Department and child-placing agency; duties; information to be provided to biological parent, adoptive parent, or foster parent; access to departmental computer networks","url":"\/2.2-445\/","token":"2.2\/I\/A\/4.4\/2.2-445","metadata":false},{"id":60624,"structure_id":14132,"section_number":"2.2-446","catch_line":"Confidentiality of record of Children's Ombudsman; disclosure; limitations; release of certain information","url":"\/2.2-446\/","token":"2.2\/I\/A\/4.4\/2.2-446","metadata":false},{"id":71669,"structure_id":14132,"section_number":"2.2-447","catch_line":"Report of findings; recommendations; consultation with individual, Department, local department, children's residential facility, or child-placing agency; publication of adverse report; notice of actions; information provided to complainant; child fatality investigation; report","url":"\/2.2-447\/","token":"2.2\/I\/A\/4.4\/2.2-447","metadata":false},{"id":58073,"structure_id":14132,"section_number":"2.2-448","catch_line":"Penalty for filing complaint or cooperating in investigation prohibited","url":"\/2.2-448\/","token":"2.2\/I\/A\/4.4\/2.2-448","metadata":false},{"id":81030,"structure_id":14132,"section_number":"2.2-449","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/2.2-449\/","token":"2.2\/I\/A\/4.4\/2.2-449","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":63429,"structure_id":14132,"section_number":"2.2-444","catch_line":"Decision to investigate; notice; pursuing administrative remedies or channels of complaint; further investigation; violation of state or federal criminal law; complaint against child-placing agency; petition requesting court jurisdiction or termination of parental rights","url":"\/2.2-444\/","token":"2.2\/I\/A\/4.4\/2.2-444","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":60624,"structure_id":14132,"section_number":"2.2-446","catch_line":"Confidentiality of record of Children's Ombudsman; disclosure; limitations; release of certain information","url":"\/2.2-446\/","token":"2.2\/I\/A\/4.4\/2.2-446","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/2.2-445\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2020. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 1090<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 3 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 2023, chapter 750<\/a>; in 2024, chapter 280<\/a>; in 2025, chapters 200<\/a> and 223<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":172281,"object_type":"law","relational_id":59527,"identifier":"2.2-445","token":"2.2\/I\/A\/4.4\/2.2-445","url":"\/2.2-445\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/2.2-445\/","token":"2.2\/I\/A\/4.4\/2.2-445","dublin_core":{"Title":"Department and child-placing agency; duties; information to be provided to biological parent, adoptive parent, or foster parent; access to departmental computer networks","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 2.2-445","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The Department or local department<\/span>, a children’s residential facility, and a child<\/span>-placing agency<\/span> shall do all of the following: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Upon the Ombudsman<\/span>’s request, grant the Ombudsman<\/span> or the Office<\/span> access to all information, records, and documents in the possession<\/span> of the Department or local department<\/span>, children’s residential facility, or child<\/span>-placing agency<\/span> that the Ombudsman<\/span> considers relevant and necessary in an investigation. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Assist the Ombudsman<\/span> or the Office<\/span> to obtain the necessary releases of those documents that are specifically restricted. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Upon the Ombudsman<\/span>’s request, provide the Ombudsman<\/span> or the Office<\/span> with progress reports concerning the administrative processing of a complaint. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Upon the Ombudsman<\/span>’s request, provide the Ombudsman<\/span> or the Office<\/span> the information requested under subdivision 1 or notification within 10 business days after the request that the Department or local department<\/span> has determined that release of the information would violate federal or state law<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> Upon the Ombudsman<\/span>’s request, grant access and provide consent to interview children in foster care<\/span> who are the subject of or the complainant<\/span> in an investigation. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The Department or local department<\/span>, a children’s residential facility, and a child<\/span>-placing agency<\/span> shall provide the Office<\/span>’s contact information along with information regarding the provisions of this chapter to a biological parent, prospective adoptive parent, or foster parent.\n\t\t\tThe Department or local department<\/span>, a children’s residential facility, and a child<\/span>-placing agency<\/span> shall also provide the Office<\/span>’s contact information along with information regarding the provisions of this chapter to any child<\/span> in foster care<\/span> age 12 or older upon the opening of a foster care<\/span> case for such child<\/span>. If a child<\/span> turns the age of 12 while in foster care<\/span>, such child<\/span> shall be provided the information required by this paragraph on or about his twelfth birthday. Each such child<\/span> shall receive such required notification annually as long as such child<\/span> remains in foster care<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The Ombudsman<\/span> and the Office<\/span> shall have access, in the Ombudsman<\/span>’s own office<\/span>, to departmental computer networks pertaining to protective services, foster care<\/span>, adoption, juvenile delinquency, and the central registry<\/span>, unless otherwise prohibited by state or federal law<\/span> or if the release of the information to the Ombudsman<\/span> would jeopardize federal funding. The cost of implementing this subsection shall be negotiated among the Office<\/span> and the custodians of such networks. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEPARTMENT AND CHILD-PLACING AGENCY; DUTIES; INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED TO\nBIOLOGICAL PARENT, ADOPTIVE PARENT, OR FOSTER PARENT; ACCESS TO DEPARTMENTAL\nCOMPUTER NETWORKS (\u00a7 2.2-445)\n\nA. The Department or local department, a children’s residential facility,\nand a child-placing agency shall do all of the following:\n\n 1. Upon the Ombudsman’s request, grant the Ombudsman or the Office\n access to all information, records, and documents in the possession of the\n Department or local department, children’s residential facility, or\n child-placing agency that the Ombudsman considers relevant and necessary in an\n investigation.\n\n 2. Assist the Ombudsman or the Office to obtain the necessary releases of\n those documents that are specifically restricted.\n\n 3. Upon the Ombudsman’s request, provide the Ombudsman or the Office\n with progress reports concerning the administrative processing of a complaint.\n\n 4. Upon the Ombudsman’s request, provide the Ombudsman or the Office the\n information requested under subdivision 1 or notification within 10 business\n days after the request that the Department or local department has determined\n that release of the information would violate federal or state law.\n\n 5. Upon the Ombudsman’s request, grant access and provide consent to\n interview children in foster care who are the subject of or the complainant in\n an investigation.\n\nB. The Department or local department, a children’s residential facility,\nand a child-placing agency shall provide the Office’s contact information\nalong with information regarding the provisions of this chapter to a biological\nparent, prospective adoptive parent, or foster parent.\n\t\t\tThe Department or local department, a children’s residential facility,\nand a child-placing agency shall also provide the Office’s contact\ninformation along with information regarding the provisions of this chapter to\nany child in foster care age 12 or older upon the opening of a foster care case\nfor such child. If a child turns the age of 12 while in foster care, such child\nshall be provided the information required by this paragraph on or about his\ntwelfth birthday. Each such child shall receive such required notification\nannually as long as such child remains in foster care.\n\nC. The Ombudsman and the Office shall have access, in the Ombudsman’s own\noffice, to departmental computer networks pertaining to protective services,\nfoster care, adoption, juvenile delinquency, and the central registry, unless\notherwise prohibited by state or federal law or if the release of the\ninformation to the Ombudsman would jeopardize federal funding. The cost of\nimplementing this subsection shall be negotiated among the Office and the\ncustodians of such networks.\n\nHISTORY: 2020, c. 1090; 2023, c. 750; 2024, c. 280; 2025, cc. 200, 223.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}