Social Services

In addition to benefit payments, local social service agencies offer a wide variety of services to meet social needs. Service Programs include:

ADOPTION SERVICES: Numerous services are necessary for homeless children to become permanent members of a family unit. Registries of families studied and approved for adoption and of children available for adoption are maintained, while a variety of efforts attempt to bring these families and children together.

ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES: Protective services are provided to aged, blind and disabled adults who are unable to protect themselves from abuse, neglect and exploitation. Services are offered regardless of the person's income or financial resources. Persons may live alone, with relatives, in nursing homes, adult care residences, hospitals or with people to whom they are not related. Adult Protective Service complaints may be made by calling 540-387-6040 during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. After these hours, an emergency complaint may be made to the local police department by calling 540-562-3265 or by calling the state hotline at 1-888-832-3858.

ADULT SERVICES: Services such as companion and adult day care enable aged or disabled adults to remain in their homes rather than move to institutions. Other services protect adults from abuse, neglect or exploitation. If institutionalization becomes necessary, arrangements are made for appropriate care. Transition back to the community is also provided when adults are released from various institutions.

CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES: Reports of abuse and neglect of children under 18 are investigated with the goal of protecting children from physical, mental, sexual, emotional and medical neglect as well as from abuse and exploitation. Services are also developed to prevent and alleviate family dysfunction and child abuse/neglect. Child Protective Service complaints may be made by calling 540-387-6040 during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. After these hours, an emergency complaint may be made to the local police department by calling 540-562-3265 or by calling the state hotline at 1-800-552-7096.

DAY CARE SERVICES FOR CHILDREN: Day care in approved homes or centers can be arranged so that parents can become employed, train for employment or when parents must be absent from home in an emergency. Day care can also provide substitute care for children needing protection.

EARLY AND PERIODIC SCREENING, DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT (EPSDT): Certain preventive health services are available for Medicaid recipients under 21 years of age. Services are provided in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Health.

EMPLOYMENT SERVICES: Able-bodied recipients of (and applicants for) public assistance are required to participate in Employment Services. The program includes job search, work experience, education and training.

FOSTER CARE: Temporary substitute care is arranged for children who cannot be in their own home. The goal of foster care is a permanent home for each child. Returning to his or her own home is the first choice, followed by going to a relative's home. The next choice would be adoption or permanent foster care.

FOSTER PARENTING: The department actively recruits families to provide homes to children who are unable to reside in their own home due to abuse or neglect. Foster parents provide a stable structured environment to assist children with the difficulty of being separated from their parents.

VOLUNTEER SERVICES: Volunteers assist social service agencies with direct, indirect and advisory services to staff and clients. Volunteers provide such services as transportation, socialization, home winterization, fuel assistance and support to children, adults and families. Families needing protective services benefit from volunteer parent aide support and respite care. Aging and disabled adults receive telephone reassurance, friendly visitations and legal guardianship and referrals.