Virginia Recognizes Top Ten Hospitals for Stellar Paternity Establishment Rates

Richmond, VA (VR) – Each year, the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS), in conjunction with Veritas HHS and the Virginia Paternity Establishment Program (VPEP), recognizes the top ten Virginia hospitals with the highest rates of paternity establishment. In 2021, more than 33,000 births in Virginia were to unmarried parents and the Commonwealth’s paternity establishment rate climbed from 73.64% in 2020 to 76%. The hospital achieving the highest rate in 2021 was Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center (MCRC) in Richmond, which averaged a rate of 88.31%.

“We are so proud of this accomplishment for MRMC Birthplace and the hard work of our unit,” said Bon Secours MCRC Director of Women’s Health Services, Amy Daly. “We want to thank Connie Vaughan, Krystal Cobb, Sharica Kennedy, Jocy Vuiller, and Catherine Bowling for all their hard work. They work so hard every day and continue to be dedicated to our families by making sure they have the opportunity to establish paternity,” Daly added.

The VPEP offers unmarried parents the opportunity to establish paternity for newborn children. Establishing paternity not only affirms a father’s legal rights and responsibility, but it also ensures the child has greater access to emotional support and other social and economic opportunities. VPEP also supports paternity establishment should unmarried parents decide later that they would like to add the father to the birth certificate.

“Research strongly indicates that children whose fathers are involved throughout childhood have more positive outcomes – economically, academically, behaviorally, socially, and emotionally. The child also has the opportunity for an expanded family support system that includes the father and the father’s side of his or her family. Thanks to our partners in the birthing hospitals, at Vital Records, and Veritas HHS, children in Virginia have the benefits of paternity and fatherhood,” said Barbara Lacina, VDSS Division of Child Support Enforcement Director.

Beyond providing legal rights and connecting a child with the other half of their genetic medical history, establishing paternity also provides the child with a sense of identity that lets them know they are part of a family. It is known to promote a more stable father-child relationship and opens the door to the child gaining a wealth of other relatives including grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. These and other benefits of paternity establishment give the child a stronger family foundation, supporting their healthy development and self-esteem.

Top Ten Virginia Hospitals by Paternity Establishment Rate

       Hospital PER (Paternity Establishment Rate)