Religious Rights of Youth in Out-of-Home Care - Virgin Islands

Date: January 2024

Youths' Religious Rights
Citation: Ann. Code Tit. 5, § 2553

In placing a child under the guardianship or legal custody of an individual, private agency, or institution, and in granting adoption, the court shall, whenever practicable, select a person, agency, or institution governed by persons of the same religious faith as that of the child's parents; or, in case of a difference in the religious faith of the parents, then of the religious faith of the child; or, if the religious faith of the child is not ascertainable, then of the faith of either of the parents.

Agency Responsibilities 
Citation: Code of Rules Tit. 34, §§ 104-74; 104-77

Children living in a foster home or in an institution shall be assured of religious training in their own faith and, wherever possible, in their own denomination.

The foster home study shall determine whether the foster parents have definite religious convictions and agree to permit the child to continue in the child's own faith.

Addressing Grievances

This issue is not addressed in the statutes and regulations reviewed.