Child abuse or neglect; establishes centralized hotline for reports or complaints, report.

This legislation aims to improve the protection of Virginia’s children by establishing a centralized, statewide hotline for reporting suspected child abuse or neglect. Currently, reports are often handled through a patchwork of local social services departments, which can cause confusion and delays. By creating a single, consistent point of contact, the state expects to streamline the reporting process, ensure higher quality data collection, and allow for a more rapid response from authorities. For Arlington families and residents, this change means that concerns about a child's safety can be directed to a professional, unified system at any time, reducing the burden on local agencies and providing a more reliable safety net for vulnerable minors across the Commonwealth.