As used in this chapter, unless the context requires another meaning:

"Abused or neglected child" means the same as that term is defined in § 63.2-100.

"Administrative act" includes an action, omission, decision, recommendation, practice, or other procedure of the Department, a local department, a children's residential facility, or a child-placing agency with respect to a particular child related to agency placement adoption, foster care, or child protective services.

"Agency placement adoption" means adoptions facilitated by child-placing agencies or local boards pursuant to Article 2 (§ 63.2-1221 et seq.) of Chapter 12 of Title 63.2.

"Central registry" means the system maintained at the Department of Social Services pursuant to § 63.2-1515.

"Child" means an individual who is (i) younger than the age of 18 or (ii) for purposes of the Fostering Futures program established pursuant to Article 2 (§ 63.2-917 et seq.) of Chapter 9 of Title 63.2, younger than the age of 21 and meets the eligibility criteria set forth in § 63.2-919.

"Child-placing agency" means (i) any person who places children in foster homes, adoptive homes, or independent living arrangements pursuant to § 63.2-1819; (ii) a local board that places children in foster homes or adoptive homes pursuant to §§ 63.2-900, 63.2-903, and 63.2-1221; or (iii) an entity that assists parents with the process of delegating parental and legal custodial powers of their children pursuant to Chapter 10 (§ 20-166 et seq.) of Title 20. "Child-placing agency" does not include the persons to whom such parental or legal custodial powers are delegated pursuant to Chapter 10 (§ 20-166 et seq.) of Title 20. Officers, employees, or agents of the Commonwealth or any locality thereof, acting within the scope of their authority as such, who serve as or maintain a child-placing agency shall not be required to be licensed.

"Children's Ombudsman" or "Ombudsman" means the individual appointed to head the Office of the Children's Ombudsman under § 2.2-439.

"Children's residential facility" means the same as that term is defined in § 63.2-100.

"Child-serving agency" means (i) a state agency that provides services or regulates the provision of services to children, including the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the Department of Education, the Department of Health, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Social Services, and the Office of Children's Services, and (ii) a local entity that provides services to children and that receives funding from a state agency under clause (i). "Child-serving agency" does not include any law-enforcement agency.

"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Social Services or his designee or authorized representative.

"Complainant" means an individual who makes a complaint pursuant to § 2.2-441.

"Department" means the Department of Social Services.

"Foster care" means 24-hour substitute care for children in the custody of the local board or who remain in the custody of their parents, but are placed away from their parents or guardians and for whom the local board has placement and care responsibility through a noncustodial agreement. "Child in foster care" includes children committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice who were in the custody of a local board immediately prior to their commitment to the Department of Juvenile Justice.

"Foster care services" means the provision of a full range of casework, treatment, and community services, including independent living services, for a planned period of time provided to a child meeting the requirements set forth in § 63.2-905.

"Law-enforcement agency" means any crime victim and witness assistance program whose funding is provided in whole or in part by grants administered by the Department of Criminal Justice Services pursuant to § 9.1-104, any state or local police or sheriff's department, any office of an attorney for the Commonwealth, or the Office of the Attorney General.

"Local department" means the local department of social services of any county or city in the Commonwealth.

"Office" means the Office of the Children's Ombudsman established under § 2.2-439.

2020, c. 1090; 2023, c. 750; 2024, c. 280; 2025, cc. 200, 223; 2026, c. 989.