FAMILY
ADVOCACY
Family Advocacy
Families in Virginia need information about and access to programs, policies, and solutions that not only impact their lives today, but help them plan for tomorrow. Advocacy on behalf of children and parents helps elected officials and stakeholders understand what is needed to maintain stability for low-income families.
Victims of domestic and sexual violence and those who represent them need tools to navigate the legal pathways available. Elderly Virginians should be able to plan for and have access to assisted living facilities, living wills, and powers of attorney. Families dealing with divorce, custody issues, and visitation rights need help understanding the complicated laws dictating these matters.
We can help.
Federal legislation aims to keep families together
By Valerie L’Herrou. Published in The Virginian-Pilot: February 7, 2025 (subscription required)…
Supreme Court Upholds Law That Bans Domestic Abusers From Owning Guns
Richmond, VA June 21, 2024 – Today, the Supreme Court of the…
At VPLC, April is Help Families Thrive Month
Every April, Virginia and the nation observe “Child Abuse Prevention Month.” But…
Parents Need Better Legal Protection
Parents need better legal representation When it comes to child dependency cases,…
We Can’t Create a Lending Loophole: Pay a Living Wage
A few days into the 2023 Virginia General Assembly session, VPLC learned…
VPLC’s Invitation to Oliver Anthony: Join Us!
Odds are, by now you’ve heard about that song from a country singer in…
If Children Are the Future, We Should Start Acting Like It.
While June, Family Reunification Month in Virginia and nationwide, has come to…
Work Requirements are Cruel and Insulting to Those in Need
During the debt ceiling negotiations, the topic of “work requirements” was front…
Helping Families Thrive: A New Approach to Child Abuse Prevention
Author: Valerie L’Herrou/VPLC Family & Child Welfare Attorney Around the country and…
When Virginia fails to provide meaningful legal representation to parents, it’s rural, low-income, and Black families who are torn apart.
Author: Anna Daniszewski/VPLC Legal Fellow Impressive reporting from Cardinal News this week…
Don’t Forget Legal Aid on Giving Tuesday
Did you know that Virginia Poverty Law Center was founded in 1978…
VPLC’s Bar Stars Join Fight for Justice
Congratulations to VPLC’s newest attorneys, Anna Daniszewski and Flannery O’Rourke, who passed…
Foster Care Update: Utilizing Kinship Care to Keep Families Together
Author: Anna Daniszewski/VPLC Legal Fellow Virginia Governor Youngkin’s Safe and Sound Task…
Reducing the Trauma of Removal
Why Reunification and Sibling-Placements Are Crucial to the Well-Being of Children in…
Virginia Must Do Better By Families
By Valerie L’Herrou Families are important to all of us, but especially…
PRESS RELEASE: Statement from the Virginia Poverty Law Center and Legal Aid Justice Center on Gubernatorial Vetoes of HB573 and SB297 (Medical Debt Reform)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 14, 2022 Virginia Poverty Law Center and Legal…
2022 Session Update: Week Two
This was a busy week at the General Assembly for VPLC advocates. We…
2022 Session Update: New Leadership, Same Mission
The 2022 General Assembly is off and running, with 1,938 House and…
Why Language Access is Essential for Domestic Violence Survivors
In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, this post comes from VPLC’s…
“Family First:” Prioritizing Kinship Foster Care
In honor of National Kinship Care Month, today’s newsletter comes from VPLC’s…
2021 Special Session Recap: How VPLC’s Budget Priorities Fared
When the General Assembly convened for a special 2021 session, we urged…
Equitable Rescue & Recovery: VPLC Special Session Budget Priorities
The Virginia General Assembly will convene in Richmond on Monday, August 2…
PRESS RELEASE: New anti-poverty laws take effect in Virginia today
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 1, 2021 The suite of new laws will…
Aging in Place with Community Support
Given a choice, most of us would choose to ‘age in place’…
Sexual Assault Can and Does Happen to Everyone: Musings on Serving Male Victims
In honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, we are featuring a blog…
Statement from the Virginia Poverty Law Center
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 19, 2021 Statement from the Virginia Poverty Law…
Family Reunification: Why It Matters
Reunification refers to the reunion of children in foster care with their…
New landlord-tenant laws, foster care reform, and restored driver’s licenses: new Virginia laws take effect July 1
Today, hundreds of new laws that passed during this year’s General Assembly…
Aging and fraud: how to fend off scammers as we grow older
As we age, we become more vulnerable to scammers. According to a…
After 10 long years, a LA VIDA client finally receives her green card
Alicia* was getting ready to have nursing school graduation pictures taken when…
Addressing rising elder abuse in Virginia
Patricia* moved to Virginia to live with her daughter and son-in-law. Not…
To improve foster care in Virginia, work to keep families together
This April, Governor Northam signed bipartisan legislation improving foster care in Virginia,…
VPLC’s 2019 Legislative Review
With another General Assembly session behind us and the dust settled after…
Surviving domestic and sexual violence while undocumented: one woman’s story
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). To learn more, visit the…
Promoting Consent for Sexual Assault Awareness Month
April is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). This year’s theme for…
Why Increasing TANF Matters
The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is a federally funded, cash…
Keep New Funding for Adult Protective Services
Oppose Budget Amendment Item 334 #1s Item 334 #1s removes $100,000 from…
The Costly Price of Long-Term Care
With our population aging and living longer, long-term care is growing increasingly…
Crossover Report | 2019 General Assembly
Tuesday, February 5, 2019, was “Crossover Day” in the General Assembly—the last…
Supporting Changes to Improve Foster Care for Virginia’s Children
Learn more about the suite of bills being introduced during the 2019…
VPLC Supports Legislation Protecting Domestic and Sexual Violence Survivors Who Report Abuse
To intimidate their victims and deter them from seeking help or court…
Family Reunification Month: VPLC works on policies to keep families together
Following on the heels of National Foster Care Month, Virginia Governor Ralph…
National Foster Care Month: Focus on Kinship Care
Occasionally, parents find themselves unable to take care of their children–often temporarily–…
Working to Improve Laws for Domestic and Sexual Violence Victims
Every year at the Virginia General Assembly, VPLC supports, opposes and/or works…
Supporting Kinship Guardian Assistance Program (KinGAP)
Keeping families together by helping relative foster families become legal guardians When…
Susheela Varky with Governor McAuliffe as He Signs Historic Gun Deal that Helps DV Victims
VPLC Staff Attorney Susheela Varky joined Governor McAuliffe along with other advocates…
Your Mother’s Nursing Home Not Treating Her Right? Who Do You Call?
Apparently, the federal government is going to do even less than they…
Announcing VPLC’s New Senior Legal Helpline!
The Virginia Poverty Law Center is pleased to announce our new Statewide…
Virginia Legal Aid Programs Kick Off Expanded Services to Victims of Crime
On June 13th, new and experienced legal aid staff members funded by…
VPLC’s Kathy Pryor received the Darrel Tiller Mason Excellence in Advocacy Award
VPLC’s own Kathy Pryorreceived the disAbility Law Center’s highest award at…
Child & Family 2017 GA Update
VPLC has been working on two bills, HB1786 and SB1086, which relate…
Support Bills That Will Help Keep Vulnerable Children In School
Long-term suspensions are harmful to children. Students excluded from school are more…
SUPPORT HB 1945
PROTECT VIRGINIA’S ADULTS FROM FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION SUPPORT HB 1945 (Peace) The…
2017 Child Welfare and Family Law Bills
This session, the main priority is a pair of bills, HB1786, and…
VPLC supports HB 1851 as a bill that supports victim safety and holds offenders accountable for their crimes.
VPLC Supports HB 1851 as Closing a Loophole Available to 1st Offense…
VPLC supports HB 1344 to make it easier on children presenting evidence in court
Sometimes it can be very difficult for children to testify in court. …
VPLC Opposes SB 861 Because It May Have a Chilling Effect on PPO Petitioners Seeking Protection Against an Act of Violence, Force or Threat
Preliminary Protective Orders (PPOs) are emergency orders designed to protect the…
VPLC’s Susheela Varky Gives Bold and Vulnerable Interview to Richmond Justice
We’re honored that this month the Richmond Justice project chose to highlight…
VPLC Applauds Historic Gun Agreement that Protects Some Domestic Violence Victims
Virginia Poverty Law Center (VPLC) applauds the historic agreement between Governor Terry…
Stop Financial Exploitation of Vulnerable Virginians
Stop Financial Exploitation of Vulnerable Virginians Financial exploitation is the illegal or…
A Survivor’s Story
In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, VPLC Staff Attorney Susheela Varky…
What can you do about substandard care in a nursing home?
Richmond Nursing Home might close, but what happens to the patients? What…
Celebrating Richmond’s Hunger-Free Schools
Last week, VPLC was honored to be a part of an event…
New Domestic Violence Bill Awaits Gov’s Signature
By Monique Coppola, Public News Service- VA Imagine you are a victim…
House of Representatives passes Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
S. 47, the bipartisan Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), passed the House…
VPLC Urges Senate to Pass VAWA and Lay Groundwork for House to Pass Senate Version of VAWA
Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Michael Crapo (R-ID) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to…
Violence Against Women Act in Limbo – Lives Hang in the Balance?
By Monique Coppola, Public News Service-VA Reauthorization of the federal Violence Against…
