Human Rights Campaign offers resources for families with LGBTQ+ youth. Challenges faced by LGBTQ+ youth are changing, but what they always need is support from each other and the adults in their lives. Family Acceptance Project is a research, intervention, education and policy initiative to prevent health and mental health risks for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer-identified (LGBTQ+) children and youth, including suicide, homelessness, drug use and HIV — in the context of their families, cultures and faith communities. They use a research-based, culturally grounded approach to help ethnically, racially and religiously diverse families learn to support their LGBTQ+ children.
PFLAG National has the support and information you need when a loved one comes out.
Birth records are public information 100 years after the date of the event; death, marriage, and divorce records are public record 25 years after the event. Vital records are available to immediate family members only- mother, father, husband, wife, child, brother, sister and grandparents with valid ID. Birth records can be issued to the legal guardian with proof of custody papers. Aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, etc. cannot obtain a vital record. Go to the Virginia Office of Vital Records website. When the vital records are from other states, use this website.
Speak with the child’s physician to find out what paperwork he or she requires to provide medical care for the child. Some physicians require a custody order or power of attorney or signed statements from parents/legal guardians.
The Virginia Department of Social Services operates a Child Protective Services (CPS) Hotline 24/7 to support local departments of social services by receiving reports of child abuse and neglect and referring them to the appropriate local department of social services. The CPS Hotline is staffed by trained Protective Services Hotline Specialists.
CPS Hotline staff may provide general information and educational materials about child abuse or neglect to callers from the general public, child care providers, school educators and medical professionals on recognizing and reporting suspected child abuse or neglect. CPS Hotline staff is also trained to provide crisis counseling and intervention if needed and can provide information and referral assistance to callers to locate prevention and/or treatment programs in their area.
The state hotline number in Virginia is (800) 552-7096. Get more information about the CPS hotline. Or call the local department of social services where the child(ren) resides: find local contact information.