<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>359695</law_id><section_number>32.1-73.12</section_number><catch_line>Department to be lead agency for services for substance-exposed infants</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="75" identifier="32.1">Health</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="2" identifier="2">Disease Prevention and Control</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="14" identifier="17">Substance-Exposed

Infants</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>The <span class="dictionary">Department</span> shall serve as the lead agency with responsibility for the development, coordination, and implementation of a plan for services for substance-exposed infants in the Commonwealth. Such plan shall support a trauma-informed approach to identification and treatment of substance-exposed infants and their caregivers and shall include options for improving screening and identification of substance-using pregnant women; use of multidisciplinary approaches to intervention and service delivery during the prenatal period and following the birth of the substance-exposed child; and referral among providers serving substance-exposed infants and their families and caregivers. In carrying out its duties, the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> shall work cooperatively with the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Social Services, the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, <span class="dictionary">community services</span> <span class="dictionary">boards</span> and behavioral health authorities, local <span class="dictionary">departments</span> of health, the Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Virginia Section, and such other stakeholders as may be appropriate. The <span class="dictionary">Department</span> shall report annually on December 1 to the General Assembly regarding implementation of the plan.</p></section></text><history>2018, cc. 695, 696.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
