Notice is hereby given in accordance with § 2.2-4007.01 of the Code of Virginia that the State Board of Social Services intends to consider amending 22VAC40-201, Permanency Services - Prevention, Foster Care, Adoption, and Independent Living. The purpose of the proposed regulatory action is to provide an appeal process related to benefits and services for children in the Commonwealth's foster care system to help ensure that these children, their birth parents when reunification is a goal, and in some cases, foster parents, receive needed services and payments. In addition, the proposed regulatory action provides an appeal process for independent living services for youth who are in or have been in the foster care system and for individuals who are eligible for prevention services under § 63.2-905 of the Code of Virginia.

The agency does not intend to hold a public hearing on the proposed action after publication in the Virginia Register.

Statutory Authority: §§ 63.2-217, 63.2-900, and 63.2-915 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Comment Deadline: August 13, 2014.

Agency Contact: Phyl Parrish, Department of Social Services, Division of Family Services, 801 East Main Street, Richmond, VA 23219-2901, telephone (804) 726-7926, FAX (804) 726-7895, TTY (800) 828-1849, or email phyl.parrish@dss.virginia.gov.