As Commissioner of Social Services and inspired by Gov. Youngkin’s unwavering commitment to Virginia’s families, I want to speak directly to the challenges and opportunities before us in protecting our commonwealth’s children.
Virginia is at a crossroads. Gov. Youngkin has made it clear: the well-being of our children is not just a priority, it is a moral imperative and a measure of our success as a commonwealth. Yet, the data tells us we are falling short. In 2024, the Department of Social Services received nearly 95,000 reports of alleged child abuse and neglect — a 27% increase since 2020. Even more troubling, in 2023, 38 children died as a direct result of abuse or neglect, and in 71% of those cases, there was active or prior child welfare involvement. This is unacceptable and demands urgent, collective action.
We must recognize that these tragedies are not isolated incidents — they are symptoms of a system under strain. Our local social services agencies are facing historic levels of burnout and turnover. At any given time, as many as 650 family services positions remain vacant across Virginia’s 120 local departments. Two in five entry-level positions turn over each year. The complexity of the work, the scarcity of resources, and the rising number of families in crisis have created an environment where even the most dedicated professionals at the state and local levels are stretched to their limits.
Gov. Youngkin’s vision for Virginia is one where no child falls through the cracks. That’s why we are investing in nation-leading reforms to childcare, supporting working mothers and fathers and transforming early childhood education. Our Building Blocks for Virginia Families initiative is ensuring that every family, regardless of income, has access to quality care, and we are cutting red tape to make it easier for parents and providers alike.
But we cannot stop there. The foster care system in Virginia must be reimagined. While we have made progress in keeping children with their families, too many young people age out of foster care without a permanent home. Last year, 439 youth left our system without achieving permanency, placing them at greater risk for homelessness, poverty and substance abuse. We are addressing this head-on through the Safe and Sound Task Force and by expanding kinship care, connecting children with extended family and reducing trauma.
Gov. Youngkin’s Right Help, Right Now initiative is also delivering results, expanding access to behavioral health services and building a continuum of care that meets families where they are. We are increasing mobile crisis teams, creating stabilization centers and ensuring that help is available the moment it’s needed.
Yet, the work is not finished. We must continue to strengthen our frontline workforce and reduce burnout by investing in recruitment, training and retention, as well as streamlining our systems to close gaps in services and ensure families get the support they need before tragedy strikes.
Because every child deserves to grow up safe, healthy and with hope for the future, we must prioritize prevention — not reaction. Finally, we must embrace data-driven interventions and commonsense reforms to maximize every dollar and deliver real results for Virginia’s families.
At the Virginia Department of Social Services, we are committed to working hand-in-hand with Gov. Youngkin, our local partners and every Virginian who believes that the safety and well-being of our children is non-negotiable. Together, we can build a stronger, safer and more compassionate commonwealth — for this generation and the next.
James Hunter Williams is commissioner of the Virginia Department of Social Services.