For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Yesenia Peiker
(732) 749-0581
Celebrating Excellence:
Top Ten Ranking Virginia Hospitals Recognized for Stellar Paternity Establishment Rates
Richmond, Va.—The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) in conjunction with the Virginia Office of Vital Records (OVR) and the Virginia Paternity Establishment Program (VPEP) have announced the top ten Virginia hospitals recognized for excellent performances in paternity establishment rates for 2024. These hospitals, located throughout the Commonwealth, continue to set the industry standard by recording paternity establishment rates greater than 78 percent.
VDSS’ Division of Child Support Enforcement sponsors VPEP, which is operated by Veritas-HHS. VPEP is a program which offers unmarried parents the opportunity to establish paternity for their newborns by voluntarily acknowledging fatherhood during their hospital stay. VPEP also supports paternity establishment should unmarried parents decide later that they would like to add the dad to the birth certificate. The Commonwealth has a total of 51 birthing hospitals serving parents statewide that promote paternity establishment. “We greatly appreciate Virginia’s birthing hospitals and their commitment to establishing paternity for children in the Commonwealth. Paternity establishment is critical to children’s well-being and promotes a positive relationship with both parents, which leads to better outcomes for kids, said VDSS Deputy Commissioner Craig Burshem. “Our partnership with birthing hospitals is an invaluable value tool in helping ensure that children reap the benefits of having both their parents share the responsibility of ensuring they have the emotional, physical, and financial support they need to grow and thrive.”
“The benefits of establishing paternity are vast and vary from increasing a child’s self-esteem to establishing a child’s health history,” stated Yesenia Peiker, VPEP Project Manager. “It is imperative that we continually advocate the idea that paternity establishment is about the child, not about the parents. A child, who has an established bond with his or her father, has greater access to emotional support and social and economic opportunities”.
The hospital with the highest paternity establishment rate in 2024 is Twin County Regional Hospital in Galax, Virginia. At 86.60 %, their paternity establishment rates exceed the projected state-mandated levels of more than 80% for the year.
“I’m really proud of our team and all of their hard work!” said Arielle Wilder, OB Director of the Women’s center at Twin County Regional Hospital.
The Commonwealth’s current paternity establishment rate averages are 78%, which is up 1% from 2023. The paternity establishment rates are on an upward trend. This is a valuable fact considering that statistics show more unmarried mothers are giving birth, due in part to changing social patterns, social beliefs and changing economic conditions.
The top ten ranked hospitals for 2024 are shown below:
2024 Virginia Births by Facility Hospital Voluntary Paternity Establishment Rates (as reported by OVR)
| Hospital | 2024 Paternity Rate |
| 1. Twin County Regional Hospital | 86.60% |
| 2. Fauquier Hospital, Inc. | 86.36% |
| 3. Winchester Medical Center, Inc. | 84.94% |
| 4. Lewis-Gale Hospital-Montgomery | 84.85% |
| 5. UVA Culpeper Hospital | 84.66% |
| 6. Stafford Hospital Center | 84.46% |
| 7. Inova Fair Oaks Hospital | 83.64% |
| 8. Ballad Norton Community Hospital Inc. | 83.33% |
| 9. Clinch Valley Medical Center | 83.33% |
| 10. Bon Secours St. Francis Medical Center | 83.12% |
The top ranked hospitals for 2024 based on hospital size and census are shown below:
2024 Virginia Births by Facility Hospital Voluntary Paternity Establishment Rates (as reported by OVR) Ranked by Hospital Census
1-199 Births
| Hospital | 2024 Paternity Rate |
| 1. Twin County Regional Hospital | 86.60% |
| 2. Clinch Valley Medical Center | 83.33% |
200-399 Births
| Hospital | 2024 Paternity Rate |
| 1. Ballad Norton Community Hospital Inc. | 83.33% |
| 2. Wythe County Community Hospital | 78.88% |
| 3. Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital | 76.96% |
| 4. VCU Health – Community Memorial Hospital | 76.84% |
| 5. Southside Community Hospital | 76.54% |
400-699 Births
| Hospital | 2024 Paternity Rate |
| 1. UVA Culpeper Hospital | 84.66% |
| 2. Fauquier Hospital, Inc. | 86.36% |
| 3. Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center | 82.47% |
| 4. Ballad Johnston Memorial Hospital Inc. | 75.21% |
| 5. CJW Medical Center – Jahnke Road | 73.58% |
| 6. Sentara Careplex Hospital | 69.90% |
| 7. Southside Regional Medical Center | 67.98% |
700-999 Births
| Hospital | 2024 Paternity Rate |
| 1. Stafford Hospital Center | 84.46% |
| 2. Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center | 82.01% |
| 3. Carilion New River Valley Medical Center | 80.56% |
| 4. Sovah Health Danville | 80.15% |
1000-1299 Births
| Hospital | 2024 Paternity Rates |
| 1. Stonesprings Hospital Center | 81.87% |
| 2. Sentara RMH Medical Center | 81.28% |
| 3. Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital | 79.83% |
| 4. Mary Immaculate Hospital | 77.15% |
| 5. Sentara Obici Hospital | 74.40% |
| 6. Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center | 72.67% |
| 7. Fort Belvoir Community Hospital | 59.21% |
1300+ Births
| Hospital | 2024 Paternity Rate |
| 1. Winchester Medical Center, Inc | 84.90% |
| 2. Inova Fair Oaks Hospital | 83.60% |
| 3. Bon Secours St. Francis Medical Center | 83.10% |
| 4. Sentara Princess Anne Hospital | 83.00% |
| 5. Sentara Leigh Hospital | 82.40% |
| 6. Augusta Health | 82.30% |
| 7. Prince William Medical Center | 82.10% |
| 8. Inova Loudoun Hospital, Lansdowne | 81.60% |
| 9. Inova Fairfax Hospital | 81.30% |
| 10. University Of Virginia Medical Center | 80.80% |
To find out more information about the Virginia Paternity Establishment Program, please visit www.vapaternity.com
