HD55 - Study of Unmarried Minor Parents


Executive Summary:
House Joint Resolution 252 directed the Department of Social Services, in consultation with the Virginia Poverty Law Center, to study various approaches for supporting children born to unmarried minor parents. Specifically, the resolution directed a study of three policy options:

• making unmarried minor parents ineligible for public assistance programs;

• requiring minor parents to reside with a parent, grandparent, or foster parent or in another appropriate placement where supervision, guidance, and support are provided, as a condition of eligibility for public assistance programs; and

• holding grandparents financially responsible for the support of grandchildren born to unmarried minor parents.

The report of findings is due to the Commission on Stimulating Personal Initiative to Overcome Poverty in December 1994.