{"data":{"id":"us-va/va.-code-2.2-442","jurisdiction":"us-va","citation":"Va. Code § 2.2-442","heading":"Children's Ombudsman; powers and duties","body":"In addition to any powers described in this chapter, the Children's Ombudsman has the authority to do all of the following with regard to children receiving child-protective services, in foster care, or placed for adoption and children who may have died as a result of alleged abuse or neglect:1. Pursue all necessary action, including legal action, to protect the rights and welfare of such children;2. Pursue legislative advocacy in the best interest of such children;3. Review policies and procedures relating to any child-serving agency's involvement with such children upon the Ombudsman's own initiative or upon receipt of a complaint and make recommendations for improvement;4. Initiate investigations of administrative acts of the Department, a local department, a children's residential facility, or a child-placing agency in cases relating to such children upon the Ombudsman's own initiative or upon receipt of a complaint; and5. Subject to an appropriation of funds, commence and conduct investigations into alleged violations of the rights of a foster parent.2020, c. 1090; 2023, c. 750; 2024, c. 280.","path":["Title 2.2. Administration of Government","Subtitle I. Organization of State Government","Part A. Office of the Governor","Chapter 4.4. Office of the Children's Ombudsman"],"source_url":"https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/2.2-442/","current_through":"9/4/2026","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-04T15:12:14Z","sha256":"28b357e87aa3f37f57242f7a635a2379ecd371915b2179c1ed2c911baafcf9bf","source_id":"us-va","stale":true,"prev":"us-va/va.-code-2.2-441","next":"us-va/va.-code-2.2-443"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}