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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>82383</law_id><section_number>2.2-438</section_number><catch_line>Definitions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="2.2">Administration of Government</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="I">Organization of State Government</unit><unit label="part" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="A">Office of the Governor</unit><unit label="chapter" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="4.4">Office of the Children's Ombudsman</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>As used in this chapter, unless context requires another meaning:
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Abused or neglected child</span>&#x201D; means the same as that term is defined in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/63.2-100/">63.2-100</a>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Administrative act</span>&#x201D; includes an action, omission, decision, recommendation, practice, or other procedure of the Department, a <span class="dictionary">local department</span>, a children&#x2019;s residential facility, or a <span class="dictionary">child-placing agency</span> with respect to a particular child related to adoption, <span class="dictionary">foster care</span>, or protective services.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Central registry</span>&#x201D; means the system maintained at the Department of Social Services pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Central registry; disclosure of information" href="/63.2-1515/">63.2-1515</a>.
		&#x201C;Child&#x201D; means an individual who is (i) younger than the age of 18 or (ii) for purposes of the Fostering Futures program established pursuant to Article 2 (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Fostering Futures program; established" href="/63.2-917/">63.2-917</a> et seq.) of Chapter 9 of Title 63.2, younger than the age of 21 and meets the eligibility criteria set forth in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Fostering Futures program; eligibility" href="/63.2-919/">63.2-919</a>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Child-placing agency</span>&#x201D; means (i) any person who places children in foster homes, adoptive homes, or independent living arrangements pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Where child-placing agencies may place children" href="/63.2-1819/">63.2-1819</a>; (ii) a local board that places children in foster homes or adoptive homes pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Accepting children for placement in homes, facilities, etc., by local boards" href="/63.2-900/">63.2-900</a>, <a class="law" title="Entrustment agreements; adoption" href="/63.2-903/">63.2-903</a>, and <a class="law" title="Placement of children for adoption by agency or local board" href="/63.2-1221/">63.2-1221</a>; or (iii) an entity that assists parents with the process of delegating parental and legal custodial powers of their children pursuant to Chapter 10 (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Power of attorney to delegate parental or legal custodial powers" href="/20-166/">20-166</a> et seq.) of Title 20. &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Child-placing agency</span>&#x201D; does not include the persons to whom such parental or legal custodial powers are delegated pursuant to Chapter 10 (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Power of attorney to delegate parental or legal custodial powers" href="/20-166/">20-166</a> et seq.) of Title 20. Officers, employees, or agents of the Commonwealth or any locality thereof, acting within the scope of their authority as such, who serve as or maintain a <span class="dictionary">child-placing agency</span> shall not be required to be licensed.
		&#x201C;Children&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">Ombudsman</span>&#x201D; or &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Ombudsman</span>&#x201D; means the individual appointed to head the <span class="dictionary">Office</span> of the Children&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">Ombudsman</span> under &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Children's Ombudsman; establishment; appointment; removal" href="/2.2-439/">2.2-439</a>.
		&#x201C;Children&#x2019;s residential facility&#x201D; means the same as that term is defined in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/63.2-100/">63.2-100</a>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Child-serving agency</span>&#x201D; means (i) a <span class="dictionary">state agency</span> that provides services to children, including the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the Department of Education, the Department of Health, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Social Services, and the <span class="dictionary">Office</span> of Children&#x2019;s Services, and (ii) a local entity that provides services to children and that receives funding from a <span class="dictionary">state agency</span> under clause (i). &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Child-serving agency</span>&#x201D; does not include any <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agency</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Complainant</span>&#x201D; means an individual who makes a complaint pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Individuals making complaint to Children's Ombudsman" href="/2.2-441/">2.2-441</a>.
		&#x201C;Department&#x201D; means the Department of Social Services.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Foster care</span>&#x201D; means care provided to a child by a foster parent, children&#x2019;s residential facility, or group home licensed or approved by the Department under Chapter 9 (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Accepting children for placement in homes, facilities, etc., by local boards" href="/63.2-900/">63.2-900</a>) of Title 63.2; care provided to a child in a relative&#x2019;s home under a <span class="dictionary">court order</span>; or any other care provided at the time the child&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">custody</span> has been given to a government agency.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">Law</span>-enforcement agency</span>&#x201D; means any <span class="dictionary">crime</span> victim and <span class="dictionary">witness</span> assistance program whose funding is provided in whole or in part by grants administered by the Department of Criminal Justice Services pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Establishment of victim and witness assistance programs; purpose; guidelines" href="/9.1-104/">9.1-104</a>, any state or local police or sheriff&#x2019;s department, any <span class="dictionary">office</span> of an attorney for the Commonwealth, or the <span class="dictionary">Office</span> of the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Local department</span>&#x201D; means the <span class="dictionary">local department</span> of social services of any county or city in the Commonwealth.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Office</span>&#x201D; means the <span class="dictionary">Office</span> of the Children&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">Ombudsman</span> established under &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Children's Ombudsman; establishment; appointment; removal" href="/2.2-439/">2.2-439</a>.</p></section></text><history>2020, c. 1090; 2023, c. 750; 2024, c. 280; 2025, cc. 200, 223.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
