Make Virginia CPS and Foster Care Do Better

Petition:

To: Senator Barbara Favola, Chair of the Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee 

From: Concerned Citizens of Virginia and Supporters of the "Jane Doe Files"

The Issue

Systemic failure in Child Protective Services (CPS) and the Foster Care system is not just a policy error—it is a human rights crisis.

When protection doesn’t come, the vulnerable don't get help; they get actively harmed.

We are witnessing a pattern of Institutional Abandonment, where silence from caseworkers, ignored evidence, and a lack of transparency force victims back into desperate situations.

Jane Doe’s story is not an isolated incident. It represents a system where they need to:

Make Timely Interventions

Caseworkers can currently demand immediate removal from families but avoid them for six or more months when asked for legal documents, home checks, or safety releases. 

Answer the Phone:

Social workers in Virginia currently have no deadline to answer messages. They are allowed to just ignore people, keep getting paid, and are even asking for a raise.

Follow the Facts

Decisions about kids and safety are being made based on a workers opinion, not real evidence.

Our Demands

We call on Senator Barb Favola to exercise her power in policy oversight to implement the following Evidence-Based Reforms:

Mandatory Body Cameras

Require all police and officials involved in domestic and child safety interventions to wear body cameras to ensure an objective record of events.

Trial Transparency

Mandate that courts transcribe every single trial to prevent the erasing of truth and ensure accountability for judicial statements.

Communication Accountability

Establish strict, legally binding timelines for caseworker responses. If a worker fails to provide requested legal documents on time, there must be consequences for that negligence.

Evidence-Based Protection

Ensure the law protects relatives of evidence-based abusers rather than forcing victims back into unsafe homes due to administrative technicalities.

Assumptions vs. Evidence

End the practice of pathologizing victims. Decisions regarding custody and safety must be based on documented evidence, not the subjective assumptions of officials.

The Declaration

By signing this petition, you agree that:

Safety should never depend on silence.

Incompetence must have consequences.

Moving out should not mean being forced back.

People who are hurt deserve to be believed.

Senator Favola, we are not asking for favors; we are demanding alignment with justice. Use your position to ensure that Virginia’s CPS and Foster Care systems prioritize human safety over bureaucratic convenience.

We aren't asking for a favor; we are asking you to do what is right. Sign below if you believe safety matters more than paperwork.