Editorial: Crisis in Virginia's foster care system

VIRGINIA’S FOSTER care system is failing many of the vulnerable children it is supposed to be protecting.

A scathing report from state auditors finds that too many of the approximately 5,300 Virginia children in foster care face what should be avoidable risks to their health and safety. Virginia is one of the worst states in the nation for a child to wind up in foster care.

Fortunately, the report also includes specific recommendations for improvement — recommendations that should be high on the General Assembly’s priority list when it gets to work in January.

There are valid reasons why it’s difficult for governmental agencies to remove children from their families. When, for whatever reason, a child is placed in the care of social services, the state has the responsibility to make sure that child is safe, secure and receiving all appropriate physical and mental health services.

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