Virginia First Lady

First Lady Holton Joins Former First Ladies in Supporting Women in the Arts

September 30 — First Lady Anne B. Holton joined five other Virginia first ladies in supporting MINDS WIDE OPEN: Virginia Celebrates Women in the Arts, a statewide tribute to female artists in Virginia.

"I am pleased and privileged to be part of this celebration of women in the arts today," First Lady Holton said. "I am honored to join my fellow first ladies, who have historically supported the arts, both during their tenures here at the Executive Mansion and in their private lives."

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May Recognized as National Foster Care Month in Virginia

May 15 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine today recognized May as National Foster Care Month, and encouraged Virginians to serve as resource families for foster children. Resource families can be biological relatives, or caring adults in the community, who are willing to provide a child with a safe, nurturing and potentially permanent family connection. Virginia has recently made significant progress in improving its foster care permanency rates through First Lady Anne Holton's "For Keeps" initiative, and the Children's Services System Transformation, an initiative supported by the Annie E. Casey Foundation to strengthen partnerships among the Commonwealth's entire child serving agencies.

For more information, view the Governor's press release.

Council on Reform Praised for Improving Permanency Rate

December 2008 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine and First Lady Anne Holton today praised the positive results of the work by the Council on Reform (CORE) to improve the rate of permanent placement for foster children in Virginia. It has been one year since Governor Kaine began an intensive effort to improve the delivery of child welfare and mental health services to the youth and families of Virginia. Part of this effort was a challenge to both public and private agencies to build on the momentum of First Lady Anne Holton's For Keeps initiative, and work together to find more permanent, family connections for children in foster care.

For more information, view the Governor's press release.

November Proclaimed as Adoption Awareness Month

November 2008 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine has proclaimed November as Adoption Awareness Month in the Commonwealth.As Virginians enter the holiday season and prepare to spend time with family and loved ones, more than 1,000 children in the Commonwealth are waiting for a permanent, loving home - a "forever family."

"Adoption is the greatest gift a child in the foster care system can receive," Governor Kaine said. "With more than 1,000 kids awaiting adoption in Virginia, I am confident that there's a perfect fit for each one of them with a lifelong and loving family."

September Declared as Kinship Caregivers Month

September 2008 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that September has been designated Kinship Caregivers Month. Kinship caregivers are grandparents, aunts, uncles and siblings who care for younger relatives when their parents can not.

"Many family members honorably and lovingly step in to raise the children of relatives in difficult circumstances," Governor Kaine said."Through their care, so many children are able to live with a sense of security and family."

For more information, view the Governor's press release.

Foster Parents Needed Around the State

May 2008 — May is National Foster Care Month. Nearly 8,000 children are in foster care throughout the Commonwealth. Approximately 50 percent are 13 and older. These children are in urgent need of foster parents and, for many of them, a "forever family." The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) is asking families, couples and individuals to open up their hearts and homes to a foster child.

First Lady Anne Holton created the For Keeps foster care initiative in 2007. It was founded on the belief that every child deserves and needs a "forever family." Under her leadership, a number of foster care reform efforts were successfully passed this year.

For more information, view the press release.

First Lady Holton to be Featured in WTVR TV Special

October 2007 — First Lady Anne Holton will discuss her "For Keeps" program on a TV special. The program is scheduled for broadcast on Tuesday, October 30 at 7:30 p.m. on WTVR in the Richmond viewing area (CBS 6)

For more information, view the press release.

First Lady Holton Launches "For Keeps" Listening Tour

March 2007 — First Lady Anne Holton will conduct a statewide listening tour to learn about successful foster care programs at the local level as part of her For Keeps foster care initiative.

For Keeps, which concentrates on youth over age 11, focuses on the belief that everyone deserves and needs permanent family connections to be successful. The listening tour serves to identify local programs successful in developing permanent, strong family connections for these children.

For more details, please read the news release, or look at the First Lady's public schedule.

And of course visit the For Keeps site to learn much more about the program overall.

"Delegates' Better Halves" Build Brings Virginia Legislators Together in B-Partisan House Build

June 2007 —

First Lady Holton Launches Foster Care Initiative

January 2007 —