{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/63.2-906.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/63.2-906.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/63.2-906.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/63.2-906.html"}],"law_id":80427,"edition_id":1,"section_id":80427,"structure_id":14390,"section_number":"63.2-906","catch_line":"Foster care plans; permissible plan goals; court review of foster children","history":"2002, c. 747; 2005, c. 653; 2008, cc. 475, 483; 2009, c. 124; 2011, c. 730; 2016, c. 631; 2019, c. 446; 2020, cc. 224, 366, 934; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 254, 535.","full_text":"A\n\nEach child who is committed or entrusted to the care of a local board or to a licensed child-placing agency or who is placed through an agreement between a local board and the parent, parents or guardians, where legal custody remains with the parent, parents or guardians, shall have a foster care plan prepared by the local department, the child welfare agency, or the family assessment and planning team established pursuant to § 2.2-5207, as specified in § 16.1-281. The representatives of such local department, child welfare agency, or team shall (i) involve in the development of the plan the child’s parent(s), except when parental rights have been terminated or the local department or child welfare agency has made diligent efforts to locate the parent(s) and such parent(s) cannot be located, relatives and fictive kin who are interested in the child’s welfare, and any other person or persons standing in loco parentis at the time the board or child welfare agency obtained custody or the board or the child welfare agency placed the child and (ii) for any child for whom reunification remains the goal, meet and consult with the child’s parent(s) or other person standing in loco parentis, provided that the parent(s) or other person has been located and parental rights have not been terminated, no less than once every two months and at all critical decision-making points throughout the child’s foster care case. If reunification is not the goal for the child, the local board, child welfare agency, or team shall provide information to the child’s parents regarding the parents’ option to voluntarily terminate parental rights, unless a parent’s parental rights have been terminated. The representatives of such department, child welfare agency, or team shall involve the child in the development of the plan if (a) the child is 12 years of age or older or (b) the child is younger than 12 years of age and such involvement is consistent with the best interests of the child. In cases where either the parent(s) or child is not involved in the development of the plan, the department, child welfare agency, or team shall include in the plan a full description of the reasons therefor in accordance with § 16.1-281.\n\t\t\tA court may place a child in the care and custody of (1) a public agency in accordance with § 16.1-251 or 16.1-252 or (2) a public or licensed private child-placing agency in accordance with § 16.1-278.2, 16.1-278.4, 16.1-278.5, 16.1-278.6, or 16.1-278.8. Children may be placed by voluntary relinquishment in the care and custody of a public or private agency in accordance with § 16.1-277.01 or §§ 16.1-277.02 and 16.1-278.3. Children may be placed through an agreement where legal custody remains with the parent, parents or guardians in accordance with §§ 63.2-900 and 63.2-903, or § 2.2-5208.B\n\nEach child in foster care shall be assigned a permanent plan goal to be reviewed and approved by the juvenile and domestic relations district court having jurisdiction of the child’s case. Permissible plan goals are to:1\n\nTransfer custody of the child to his prior family;2\n\nTransfer custody of the child to a relative other than his prior family or to fictive kin for the purpose of establishing eligibility for the Federal-Funded Kinship Guardianship Assistance program pursuant to § 63.2-1305 or the State-Funded Kinship Guardianship Assistance program pursuant to § 63.2-1306;3\n\nFinalize an adoption of the child;4\n\nPlace a child who is 16 years of age or older in permanent foster care;5\n\nTransition to independent living if, and only if, the child is admitted to the United States as a refugee or asylee; or6\n\nPlace a child who is 16 years of age or older in another planned permanent living arrangement in accordance with subsection A2 of § 16.1-282.1.C\n\nEach child in foster care shall be subject to the permanency planning and review procedures established in §§ 16.1-281, 16.1-282, and 16.1-282.1.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":288079,"text":"Each child who is committed or entrusted to the care of a local board or to a licensed child-placing agency or who is placed through an agreement between a local board and the parent, parents or guardians, where legal custody remains with the parent, parents or guardians, shall have a foster care plan prepared by the local department, the child welfare agency, or the family assessment and planning team established pursuant to § 2.2-5207, as specified in § 16.1-281. The representatives of such local department, child welfare agency, or team shall (i) involve in the development of the plan the child’s parent(s), except when parental rights have been terminated or the local department or child welfare agency has made diligent efforts to locate the parent(s) and such parent(s) cannot be located, relatives and fictive kin who are interested in the child’s welfare, and any other person or persons standing in loco parentis at the time the board or child welfare agency obtained custody or the board or the child welfare agency placed the child and (ii) for any child for whom reunification remains the goal, meet and consult with the child’s parent(s) or other person standing in loco parentis, provided that the parent(s) or other person has been located and parental rights have not been terminated, no less than once every two months and at all critical decision-making points throughout the child’s foster care case. If reunification is not the goal for the child, the local board, child welfare agency, or team shall provide information to the child’s parents regarding the parents’ option to voluntarily terminate parental rights, unless a parent’s parental rights have been terminated. The representatives of such department, child welfare agency, or team shall involve the child in the development of the plan if (a) the child is 12 years of age or older or (b) the child is younger than 12 years of age and such involvement is consistent with the best interests of the child. In cases where either the parent(s) or child is not involved in the development of the plan, the department, child welfare agency, or team shall include in the plan a full description of the reasons therefor in accordance with § 16.1-281.\n\t\t\tA court may place a child in the care and custody of (1) a public agency in accordance with § 16.1-251 or 16.1-252 or (2) a public or licensed private child-placing agency in accordance with § 16.1-278.2, 16.1-278.4, 16.1-278.5, 16.1-278.6, or 16.1-278.8. Children may be placed by voluntary relinquishment in the care and custody of a public or private agency in accordance with § 16.1-277.01 or §§ 16.1-277.02 and 16.1-278.3. Children may be placed through an agreement where legal custody remains with the parent, parents or guardians in accordance with §§ 63.2-900 and 63.2-903, or § 2.2-5208.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":288080,"text":"Each child in foster care shall be assigned a permanent plan goal to be reviewed and approved by the juvenile and domestic relations district court having jurisdiction of the child’s case. Permissible plan goals are to:","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"B1"},"2":{"id":288081,"text":"Transfer custody of the child to his prior family;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"B1","prefix_anchor":"B1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"B2"},"3":{"id":288082,"text":"Transfer custody of the child to a relative other than his prior family or to fictive kin for the purpose of establishing eligibility for the Federal-Funded Kinship Guardianship Assistance program pursuant to § 63.2-1305 or the State-Funded Kinship Guardianship Assistance program pursuant to § 63.2-1306;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"B2","prefix_anchor":"B2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B1","next_prefix":"B3"},"4":{"id":288083,"text":"Finalize an adoption of the child;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"B3","prefix_anchor":"B3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B2","next_prefix":"B4"},"5":{"id":288084,"text":"Place a child who is 16 years of age or older in permanent foster care;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"B4","prefix_anchor":"B4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B3","next_prefix":"B5"},"6":{"id":288085,"text":"Transition to independent living if, and only if, the child is admitted to the United States as a refugee or asylee; or","type":"section","prefixes":["B","5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"B5","prefix_anchor":"B5","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B4","next_prefix":"B6"},"7":{"id":288086,"text":"Place a child who is 16 years of age or older in another planned permanent living arrangement in accordance with subsection A2 of § 16.1-282.1.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"B6","prefix_anchor":"B6","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B5","next_prefix":"C"},"8":{"id":288087,"text":"Each child in foster care shall be subject to the permanency planning and review procedures established in §§ 16.1-281, 16.1-282, and 16.1-282.1.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B6"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14390,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14389,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:47:58","permalink":{"id":271971,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14390,"identifier":"1","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1","url":"\/63.2\/III\/9\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14389,"edition_id":1,"name":"Foster Care","identifier":"9","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13897,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:47:58","permalink":{"id":271969,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14389,"identifier":"9","token":"63.2\/III\/9","url":"\/63.2\/III\/9\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13897,"edition_id":1,"name":"Social Services Programs","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12789,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:14","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:14","permalink":{"id":271331,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13897,"identifier":"III","token":"63.2\/III","url":"\/63.2\/III\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12789,"edition_id":1,"name":"Welfare (Social Services)","identifier":"63.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","permalink":{"id":270661,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12789,"identifier":"63.2","token":"63.2","url":"\/63.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":87280,"structure_id":14390,"section_number":"63.2-900","catch_line":"Accepting children for placement in homes, facilities, etc., by local boards","url":"\/63.2-900\/","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-900","metadata":false},{"id":64851,"structure_id":14390,"section_number":"63.2-900.1","catch_line":"Kinship foster care","url":"\/63.2-900.1\/","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-900.1","metadata":false},{"id":70505,"structure_id":14390,"section_number":"63.2-900.2","catch_line":"Placement of sibling groups; visitation","url":"\/63.2-900.2\/","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-900.2","metadata":false},{"id":76064,"structure_id":14390,"section_number":"63.2-900.3","catch_line":"School placement of children in foster care","url":"\/63.2-900.3\/","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-900.3","metadata":false},{"id":72206,"structure_id":14390,"section_number":"63.2-901","catch_line":"Supervision of placement of children in homes","url":"\/63.2-901\/","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-901","metadata":false},{"id":81648,"structure_id":14390,"section_number":"63.2-901.1","catch_line":"Criminal history and central registry check for placements of children","url":"\/63.2-901.1\/","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-901.1","metadata":false},{"id":70305,"structure_id":14390,"section_number":"63.2-902","catch_line":"Agreements with persons taking children; dispute resolution; appeals","url":"\/63.2-902\/","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-902","metadata":false},{"id":83322,"structure_id":14390,"section_number":"63.2-903","catch_line":"Entrustment agreements; adoption","url":"\/63.2-903\/","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-903","metadata":false},{"id":76669,"structure_id":14390,"section_number":"63.2-904","catch_line":"Investigation, visitation, and supervision of foster homes or independent living arrangement; removal of child","url":"\/63.2-904\/","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-904","metadata":false},{"id":55728,"structure_id":14390,"section_number":"63.2-904.1","catch_line":"Intervention by Commissioner; corrective action plans; assumption of temporary control","url":"\/63.2-904.1\/","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-904.1","metadata":false},{"id":63460,"structure_id":14390,"section_number":"63.2-904.2","catch_line":"Complaint system","url":"\/63.2-904.2\/","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-904.2","metadata":false},{"id":72819,"structure_id":14390,"section_number":"63.2-905","catch_line":"Foster care services","url":"\/63.2-905\/","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-905","metadata":false},{"id":63664,"structure_id":14390,"section_number":"63.2-905.1","catch_line":"Independent living services","url":"\/63.2-905.1\/","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-905.1","metadata":false},{"id":76451,"structure_id":14390,"section_number":"63.2-905.1:1","catch_line":" Housing services","url":"\/63.2-905.1_1\/","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-905.1_1","metadata":false},{"id":59769,"structure_id":14390,"section_number":"63.2-905.2","catch_line":"Security freezes and annual credit checks for children in foster care","url":"\/63.2-905.2\/","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-905.2","metadata":false},{"id":58742,"structure_id":14390,"section_number":"63.2-905.3","catch_line":"Documents provided to foster care youth","url":"\/63.2-905.3\/","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-905.3","metadata":false},{"id":76193,"structure_id":14390,"section_number":"63.2-905.4","catch_line":"Individuals in foster care on eighteenth birthday; enrollment in Commonwealth's program of medical assistance","url":"\/63.2-905.4\/","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-905.4","metadata":false},{"id":56947,"structure_id":14390,"section_number":"63.2-905.5","catch_line":"Survey of children aging out of foster care","url":"\/63.2-905.5\/","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-905.5","metadata":false},{"id":73230,"structure_id":14390,"section_number":"63.2-905.6","catch_line":"Notice of eligibility for certain federal benefits","url":"\/63.2-905.6\/","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-905.6","metadata":false},{"id":80427,"structure_id":14390,"section_number":"63.2-906","catch_line":"Foster care plans; permissible plan goals; court review of foster children","url":"\/63.2-906\/","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-906","metadata":false},{"id":86904,"structure_id":14390,"section_number":"63.2-906.1","catch_line":"Qualified residential treatment programs","url":"\/63.2-906.1\/","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-906.1","metadata":false},{"id":81818,"structure_id":14390,"section_number":"63.2-907","catch_line":"Administrative review of children in foster care","url":"\/63.2-907\/","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-907","metadata":false},{"id":83951,"structure_id":14390,"section_number":"63.2-908","catch_line":"Permanent foster care placement","url":"\/63.2-908\/","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-908","metadata":false},{"id":59063,"structure_id":14390,"section_number":"63.2-909","catch_line":"Child support for child placed in foster care by court","url":"\/63.2-909\/","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-909","metadata":false},{"id":63433,"structure_id":14390,"section_number":"63.2-910","catch_line":"Child support for child placed in foster care where legal custody remains with parent or guardian","url":"\/63.2-910\/","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-910","metadata":false},{"id":60943,"structure_id":14390,"section_number":"63.2-910.1","catch_line":"Acceptance of children by local departments of social services","url":"\/63.2-910.1\/","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-910.1","metadata":false},{"id":56471,"structure_id":14390,"section_number":"63.2-910.2","catch_line":"Petition to terminate parental rights","url":"\/63.2-910.2\/","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-910.2","metadata":false},{"id":68598,"structure_id":14390,"section_number":"63.2-911","catch_line":"Liability insurance for foster parents","url":"\/63.2-911\/","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-911","metadata":false},{"id":82345,"structure_id":14390,"section_number":"63.2-912","catch_line":"Visitation of child placed in foster care","url":"\/63.2-912\/","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-912","metadata":false},{"id":75827,"structure_id":14390,"section_number":"63.2-912.1","catch_line":"Notification of certain rights of foster parents of public school students","url":"\/63.2-912.1\/","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-912.1","metadata":false},{"id":65725,"structure_id":14390,"section_number":"63.2-913","catch_line":"Establishment of minimum training requirements","url":"\/63.2-913\/","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-913","metadata":false},{"id":57259,"structure_id":14390,"section_number":"63.2-913.1","catch_line":"Caseload standard","url":"\/63.2-913.1\/","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-913.1","metadata":false},{"id":80392,"structure_id":14390,"section_number":"63.2-914","catch_line":"Not in effect","url":"\/63.2-914\/","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-914","metadata":false},{"id":61194,"structure_id":14390,"section_number":"63.2-915","catch_line":"Appeals to Commissioner","url":"\/63.2-915\/","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-915","metadata":false},{"id":57653,"structure_id":14390,"section_number":"63.2-916","catch_line":"Notice of developmental disabilities","url":"\/63.2-916\/","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-916","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":73230,"structure_id":14390,"section_number":"63.2-905.6","catch_line":"Notice of eligibility for certain federal benefits","url":"\/63.2-905.6\/","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-905.6","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":86904,"structure_id":14390,"section_number":"63.2-906.1","catch_line":"Qualified residential treatment programs","url":"\/63.2-906.1\/","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-906.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/63.2-906\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2002. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 747<\/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 7 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 2005, chapter 653<\/a>; in 2008, chapters 475<\/a> and 483<\/a>; in 2009, chapter 124<\/a>; in 2011, chapter 730<\/a>; in 2016, chapter 631<\/a>; in 2019, chapter 446<\/a>; in 2020, chapters 224<\/a>, 366<\/a>, and 934<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":55186,"section_number":"16.1-251","catch_line":"Emergency removal order","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-251\/"},{"id":70845,"section_number":"16.1-252","catch_line":"Preliminary removal order; hearing","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-252\/"},{"id":73490,"section_number":"16.1-277.01","catch_line":"Approval of entrustment agreement","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-277.01\/"},{"id":73075,"section_number":"16.1-277.02","catch_line":"(Effective January 1, 2026) Petition for relief of care and custody","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-277.02\/"},{"id":59979,"section_number":"16.1-278.2","catch_line":"Abused, neglected, or abandoned children or children without parental care","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-278.2\/"},{"id":54079,"section_number":"16.1-278.3","catch_line":"Relief of care and custody","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-278.3\/"},{"id":86609,"section_number":"16.1-278.4","catch_line":"Children in need of services","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-278.4\/"},{"id":62708,"section_number":"16.1-278.5","catch_line":"Children in need of supervision","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-278.5\/"},{"id":74489,"section_number":"16.1-278.6","catch_line":"Status offenders","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-278.6\/"},{"id":62824,"section_number":"16.1-278.8","catch_line":"Delinquent juveniles","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-278.8\/"},{"id":58560,"section_number":"16.1-281","catch_line":"Foster care plan","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-281\/"},{"id":56077,"section_number":"16.1-282","catch_line":"Foster care review","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-282\/"},{"id":55053,"section_number":"16.1-282.1","catch_line":"Permanency planning hearing for children in foster care","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-282.1\/"},{"id":77897,"section_number":"2.2-5207","catch_line":"Family assessment and planning team; membership; immunity from liability","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-5207\/"},{"id":65696,"section_number":"63.2-1305","catch_line":"Federal-Funded Kinship Guardianship Assistance program","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1305\/"},{"id":77603,"section_number":"63.2-1306","catch_line":"State-Funded Kinship Guardianship Assistance program","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1306\/"},{"id":87280,"section_number":"63.2-900","catch_line":"Accepting children for placement in homes, facilities, etc., by local boards","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-900\/"},{"id":83322,"section_number":"63.2-903","catch_line":"Entrustment agreements; adoption","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-903\/"}],"permalink":{"id":272049,"object_type":"law","relational_id":80427,"identifier":"63.2-906","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-906","url":"\/63.2-906\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/63.2-906\/","token":"63.2\/III\/9\/1\/63.2-906","dublin_core":{"Title":"Foster care plans; permissible plan goals; court review of foster children","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 63.2-906","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Each child<\/span> who is committed or entrusted to the care of a local board<\/span> or to a licensed child<\/span>-placing agency<\/span> or who is placed through an agreement between a local board<\/span> and the parent, parents or guardians, where legal custody<\/span> remains with the parent, parents or guardians, shall have a foster care plan prepared by the local department<\/span>, the child<\/span> welfare agency, or the family assessment and planning team established pursuant to § 2.2-5207<\/a>, as specified in § 16.1-281<\/a>. The representatives of such local department<\/span>, child<\/span> welfare agency, or team shall (i) involve in the development of the plan the child<\/span>’s parent(s), except when parental rights have been terminated or the local department<\/span> or child<\/span> welfare agency has made diligent efforts to locate the parent(s) and such parent(s) cannot be located, relatives and fictive kin<\/span> who are interested in the child<\/span>’s welfare, and any other person or persons standing in loco parentis at the time the board or child<\/span> welfare agency obtained custody<\/span> or the board or the child<\/span> welfare agency placed the child<\/span> and (ii) for any child<\/span> for whom reunification remains the goal, meet and consult with the child<\/span>’s parent(s) or other person standing in loco parentis, provided that the parent(s) or other person has been located and parental rights have not been terminated, no less than once every two months and at all critical decision-making points throughout the child<\/span>’s foster care case. If reunification is not the goal for the child<\/span>, the local board<\/span>, child<\/span> welfare agency, or team shall provide information to the child<\/span>’s parents regarding the parents’ option to voluntarily terminate parental rights, unless a parent’s parental rights have been terminated. The representatives of such department, child<\/span> welfare agency, or team shall involve the child<\/span> in the development of the plan if (a) the child<\/span> is 12 years of age or older or (b) the child<\/span> is younger than 12 years of age and such involvement is consistent with the best interests of the child<\/span>. In cases where either the parent(s) or child<\/span> is not involved in the development of the plan, the department, child<\/span> welfare agency, or team shall include in the plan a full description of the reasons therefor in accordance with § 16.1-281<\/a>.\n\t\t\tA court<\/span> may place a child<\/span> in the care and custody<\/span> of (1) a public agency in accordance with § 16.1-251<\/a> or 16.1-252<\/a> or (2) a public or licensed private child<\/span>-placing agency<\/span> in accordance with § 16.1-278.2<\/a>, 16.1-278.4<\/a>, 16.1-278.5<\/a>, 16.1-278.6<\/a>, or 16.1-278.8<\/a>. Children may be placed by voluntary relinquishment in the care and custody<\/span> of a public or private agency in accordance with § 16.1-277.01<\/a> or §§ 16.1-277.02<\/a> and 16.1-278.3<\/a>. Children may be placed through an agreement where legal custody<\/span> remains with the parent, parents or guardians in accordance with §§ 63.2-900<\/a> and 63.2-903<\/a>, or § 2.2-5208<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Each child<\/span> in foster care shall be assigned a permanent plan goal to be reviewed and approved by the juvenile and domestic relations district court<\/span> having jurisdiction<\/span> of the child<\/span>’s case. Permissible plan goals are to: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Transfer custody<\/span> of the child<\/span> to his prior family; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Transfer custody<\/span> of the child<\/span> to a relative other than his prior family or to fictive kin<\/span> for the purpose of establishing eligibility for the Federal-Funded Kinship Guardianship Assistance program<\/span> pursuant to § 63.2-1305<\/a> or the State-Funded Kinship Guardianship Assistance program<\/span> pursuant to § 63.2-1306<\/a>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Finalize an adoption of the child<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Place a child<\/span> who is 16 years of age or older in permanent foster care; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> Transition to independent living<\/span> if, and only if, the child<\/span> is admitted to the United States as a refugee or asylee; or <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> Place a child<\/span> who is 16 years of age or older in another planned permanent living arrangement in accordance with subsection A2 of § 16.1-282.1<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Each child<\/span> in foster care shall be subject to the permanency planning and review procedures established in §§ 16.1-281<\/a>, 16.1-282<\/a>, and 16.1-282.1<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nFOSTER CARE PLANS; PERMISSIBLE PLAN GOALS; COURT REVIEW OF FOSTER CHILDREN (\u00a7\n63.2-906)\n\nA. Each child who is committed or entrusted to the care of a local board or to a\nlicensed child-placing agency or who is placed through an agreement between a\nlocal board and the parent, parents or guardians, where legal custody remains\nwith the parent, parents or guardians, shall have a foster care plan prepared by\nthe local department, the child welfare agency, or the family assessment and\nplanning team established pursuant to § 2.2-5207, as specified in §\n16.1-281. The representatives of such local department, child welfare agency, or\nteam shall (i) involve in the development of the plan the child’s\nparent(s), except when parental rights have been terminated or the local\ndepartment or child welfare agency has made diligent efforts to locate the\nparent(s) and such parent(s) cannot be located, relatives and fictive kin who\nare interested in the child’s welfare, and any other person or persons\nstanding in loco parentis at the time the board or child welfare agency obtained\ncustody or the board or the child welfare agency placed the child and (ii) for\nany child for whom reunification remains the goal, meet and consult with the\nchild’s parent(s) or other person standing in loco parentis, provided that\nthe parent(s) or other person has been located and parental rights have not been\nterminated, no less than once every two months and at all critical\ndecision-making points throughout the child’s foster care case. If\nreunification is not the goal for the child, the local board, child welfare\nagency, or team shall provide information to the child’s parents regarding\nthe parents’ option to voluntarily terminate parental rights, unless a\nparent’s parental rights have been terminated. The representatives of such\ndepartment, child welfare agency, or team shall involve the child in the\ndevelopment of the plan if (a) the child is 12 years of age or older or (b) the\nchild is younger than 12 years of age and such involvement is consistent with\nthe best interests of the child. In cases where either the parent(s) or child is\nnot involved in the development of the plan, the department, child welfare\nagency, or team shall include in the plan a full description of the reasons\ntherefor in accordance with § 16.1-281.\n\t\t\tA court may place a child in the care and custody of (1) a public agency in\naccordance with § 16.1-251 or 16.1-252 or (2) a public or licensed private\nchild-placing agency in accordance with § 16.1-278.2, 16.1-278.4,\n16.1-278.5, 16.1-278.6, or 16.1-278.8. Children may be placed by voluntary\nrelinquishment in the care and custody of a public or private agency in\naccordance with § 16.1-277.01 or §§ 16.1-277.02 and 16.1-278.3.\nChildren may be placed through an agreement where legal custody remains with the\nparent, parents or guardians in accordance with §§ 63.2-900 and\n63.2-903, or § 2.2-5208.\n\nB. Each child in foster care shall be assigned a permanent plan goal to be\nreviewed and approved by the juvenile and domestic relations district court\nhaving jurisdiction of the child’s case. Permissible plan goals are to:\n\n 1. Transfer custody of the child to his prior family;\n\n 2. Transfer custody of the child to a relative other than his prior family or\n to fictive kin for the purpose of establishing eligibility for the\n Federal-Funded Kinship Guardianship Assistance program pursuant to §\n 63.2-1305 or the State-Funded Kinship Guardianship Assistance program pursuant\n to § 63.2-1306;\n\n 3. Finalize an adoption of the child;\n\n 4. Place a child who is 16 years of age or older in permanent foster care;\n\n 5. Transition to independent living if, and only if, the child is admitted to\n the United States as a refugee or asylee; or\n\n 6. Place a child who is 16 years of age or older in another planned permanent\n living arrangement in accordance with subsection A2 of § 16.1-282.1.\n\nC. Each child in foster care shall be subject to the permanency planning and\nreview procedures established in §§ 16.1-281, 16.1-282, and\n16.1-282.1.\n\nHISTORY: 2002, c. 747; 2005, c. 653; 2008, cc. 475, 483; 2009, c. 124; 2011, c.\n730; 2016, c. 631; 2019, c. 446; 2020, cc. 224, 366, 934; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc.\n254, 535.","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}}