WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SJ 294

Commending Children's Home Society of Virginia.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Emily Jordan

Formal recognition of CHS Virginia’s 125-year service to children and families; no new laws, funding, or policy changes.

Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ294ER)
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SJ 294

Summary: Senate Joint Resolution No. 294 (SJ294ER) – Commending Children's Home Society of Virginia

Overview

  • Topic: A ceremonial resolution commending Children's Home Society of Virginia (CHS Virginia) on its 125th anniversary.
  • Type: Senate Joint Resolution (enrolled version SJ294ER); no changes to law or policy—primarily a formal expression of appreciation.
  • Status: Passed and enrolled in the 2025 session.
  • Patron: Senator Jordan.
  • Key outcome: The General Assembly expresses respect, admiration, and gratitude for CHS Virginia’s work to create permanency for the Commonwealth’s children and youth; the Clerk of the Senate is directed to prepare a copy for presentation to CHS Virginia’s board of directors.

Purpose and Intent

  • Recognize CHS Virginia for 125 years of service to Virginia’s children, youth, and families.
  • Acknowledge CHS Virginia as a private, nonprofit, nonsectarian, licensed child-placing agency serving the entire Commonwealth.
  • Highlight the organization’s mission to create strong, permanent families and lifelong relationships for Virginia’s children and youth.
  • Publicly honor CHS Virginia’s long history and contributions to adoption, permanency work, and related supports.

Background / Context Highlighted in the Resolution

  • CHS Virginia history dating back to 1899-1900: origin from citizens’ efforts to improve care for abandoned and neglected children; chartered by the General Assembly in 1900 with John Garland Pollard as a founding board member.
  • Impact to date: served more than 17,000 children, youth, and families since 1900.
  • Notable programs and partnerships:
    • 1998: Collaboration with local departments of social services to facilitate foster care placements into adoptive homes.
    • 2007: Participation in Wendy’s Wonderful Kids (Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption) to recruit adoptive families for children waiting in foster care.
    • Post-adoption supports: ongoing services such as parent coaching, family engagement, respite care, and family search/reunion services.
    • 2016: My Path Forward with Better Housing Coalition to support housing and independence for youth aging out of foster care.
    • 2024: Family Check-Up (evidence-based, approved by Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse) to support adoptive families at risk of disruption.
  • Emphasis on values: permanency, equity and inclusion, integrity, collaboration, and high-quality service delivery.

Provisions and Provisions’ Effects

  • The text creates no new programs, funding, or regulatory changes.
  • Operative effect: A formal commendation and request to publicly recognize CHS Virginia’s contributions; no fiscal or policy mandates.
  • Directs: The Clerk of the Senate to prepare a formal copy of the resolution for CHS Virginia’s board of directors.

Affected Parties

  • Primary: Children’s Home Society of Virginia and its board, staff, adoptees, and adoptive families.
  • Broader: The Commonwealth’s residents, foster/adoptive communities, and organizations involved in child welfare and permanency efforts (via heightened public recognition).

Procedural/TImeline Details

  • Introduced: January 20, 2025.
  • Senate: Engrossed January 23, 2025; agreed to by Senate by voice vote January 23, 2025.
  • House: Agreed to by the House of Delegates by voice vote January 27, 2025.
  • Enrolled: January 28, 2025.
  • Version: SJ294ER (enrolled, as passed by both chambers).

Bottom-Line Assessment

SJ294ER is a ceremonial, non-substantive resolution acknowledging a long-standing Virginia organization’s service to children and families. It serves to publicly honor CHS Virginia’s 125-year legacy and invites formal recognition by the Clerk to present a copy to the organization’s board. No changes to law, funding, or administrative duties are connected to this bill.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.