Gov. Terry McAuliffe is forming a new “Children’s Cabinet’’ to focus on improving conditions for youths in Virginia.

He went to the William Byrd Community House in Richmond to announce the new effort that would seek to foster increased collaboration between various state and local agencies to meet challenges involving young people up to age 21.

The governor said one of his top priorities would be to improve schools in low-income communities.

First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe will be part of the cabinet, the governor said. Secretary of Education Anne B. Holton and Secretary of Health and Human Resources William A. Hazel Jr. will serve as co-chairs.

The governor also created the Commonwealth Council on Childhood Success and put Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam in charge.

The council, Lt. Gov. Northam said, would focus specifically on issues involving the health and education of young children from infancy to age 8.

“We know that a child’s experiences during the early years of his or her life are absolutely critical to the child’s development and ability to succeed,” Lt. Gov. Northam said.

“Public investments in early childhood programs are among the most effective, and we must ensure Virginia is doing all it can to prepare our children to be thriving, contributing members of our commonwealth.”

He said he sees the council serving as a coordinating entity to identify opportunities to improve children’s services, ranging from access to preschool to issues involving housing and nutrition.