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Advocates push for childcare, maternal health and eldercare funding in Virginia budget
Summary
Childcare advocates, maternal‑health groups and aging services organizations told the budget committees to clear childcare subsidy waiting lists, restore funding for perinatal hubs and the Famous Moms prenatal program, expand ombudsman and CNA training funding, and shore up services for older adults and people with brain injuries.
Speakers across a range of programs urged the legislature to prioritize child care, maternal health, behavioral health for older adults, and workforce investments in long‑term care.
Grace Reed (Child Care Aware Virginia) said more than 13,400 children statewide are on childcare subsidy waiting lists, with about 8,100 under age 5; she urged appropriations to clear the wait list and recommended workforce strategies (tax credits or wage supplements) to retain staff. Mary Braxton and other childcare specialists provided data on supply shortages and recommended startup grants for family child care providers.
Maternal health advocates including Dr. Dora Mohammed and Stephanie Spencer warned that proposed cuts to the Famous Moms prenatal care program and perinatal health hub funding would reverse progress on maternal mortality. Spencer asked the committees to restore $2.5 million for perinatal health hubs and adopt language defining care coordination as a primary hub function.
Speakers asked for continuing or expanded funding for Brain Injury Services and for a statewide, cost‑free CNA recruitment and training pilot; advocates argued that investments in coordination and workforce prevention reduce costly emergency care and support aging Virginians.
Terry Lynch and others testified that the long term care ombudsman program needs roughly $2,000,000 in additional funding to meet state code staffing ratios and more effectively respond to resident complaints; advocates tied inadequate staffing to lower CMS facility staffing ratings and worse resident outcomes.
Witnesses did not present formal motions or votes but asked the committees for specific appropriation levels and to consider redirecting priorities in the biennial budget.
The hearing closed with legislators thanking participants and signaling follow up during the legislative session.
