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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>77261</law_id><section_number>63.2-209</section_number><catch_line>Divisions of Department; staffing</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="63.2">Welfare (Social Services)</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="I">General Provisions Relating to Social Services</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="2">State Social Services</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">Department and Commissioner of Social Services</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall establish in the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> such divisions and regional offices as may be necessary. <a id="paragraph-277135" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-209/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall ensure that regional offices responsible for oversight of foster care and adoption services are equipped with sufficient staff, and in no event less than four staff members, to provide effective oversight of and assistance with foster care and adoption services provided by <span class="dictionary">local boards</span> in the Commonwealth. At least one staff member shall be tasked with (i) reviewing the placement of children by <span class="dictionary">local boards</span> in children&#x2019;s residential facilities to verify that such placements are warranted by medical necessity and (ii) monitoring other health-related <span class="dictionary">issues</span>, such as medication management, frequency of visits with health care providers, and use of psychotropic medications. At least one staff member shall be tasked with supporting the efforts of <span class="dictionary">local boards</span> to find family-based placement options for children who are placed in or at risk of being placed in a children&#x2019;s residential facility without a medical necessity for congregate care. At least one staff member shall be tasked with supporting the efforts of <span class="dictionary">local boards</span> to find a permanent placement for children who have the greatest risk of aging out of foster care without a permanent family. At least one staff member shall be tasked with conducting foster care and adoption case reviews to ensure that <span class="dictionary">local boards</span> within the region are providing foster care and adoption services in a manner that complies with state and federal <span class="dictionary">laws</span> and regulations and protects the health, safety, and well-being of children under the supervision and control of such <span class="dictionary">local boards</span>. Notwithstanding any other provision of <span class="dictionary">law</span>, staff of regional offices shall have the authority to provide temporary staff support to <span class="dictionary">local departments</span> experiencing higher than normal <span class="dictionary">caseloads</span> or staff shortages. <a id="paragraph-277136" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-209/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 63-7; 1968, cc. 578, 669, &#xA7; 63.1-7; 1974, cc. 44, 45; 1981, c. 21; 2002, c. 747; 2019, c. 446.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
