Social Services
Social Services Board
Community Policy and Management Team
Social Services Board
Community Policy and Management Team
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Program Descriptions
Functions of the Department are handled by three divisions: Eligibility, Services, and Administrative Units. The Department should be contacted to determine specific eligibility requirements for programs.
Eligibility Unit
This unit receives and processes initial applications for assistance and provides initial screening and assessments for other service needs by families. The unit has the responsibility for the following programs:
- General Relief (GR): GR is a local program designed to provide maintenance or emergency assistance that cannot be provided through other means.
- Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF): This program replaces the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program. Temporary financial assistance is paid to parent caretaker households in financial need and to certain relatives responsible for children who do not have parental support due to death, absence, incapacity, divorce or unemployment. For parent caretaker households who are required to participate in the VIEW work program, assistance is limited to two years unless a hardship exception is made. Within two years, employment, child care and other support services are provided and/or child support obligations are established. For all parent caretaker households, total assistance is limited to a five year lifetime maximum.
- Aid to Families with Dependent Children - Foster Care (AFDC-FC):
Financial aid is provided for children eligible for AFDC who have been removed from their homes and placed in the custody of the local social services board.- Emergency Assistance to Needy Families' Children:
Financial assistance may be paid to a family or provided of services during specific emergency situations.
- Food Stamp Program:
This federal program supplements the food budgets of low-income households to help assure needy persons a nutritionally adequate diet. Eligibility is determined by financial need, income resources and non-financial criteria such as number in household, student status, and work registration.
- Fraud Control:
Prevention and detection of fraud in benefit programs and Child Day Care. Collection of moneys owed the Agency due to both fraud and unintentional program violations.
- Energy Assistance Program
Eligible low-income households receive federal assistance with their home heating bills within the funding limits. Faulty or hazardous heating systems may also be repaired in households eligible for assistance. This program is available from November through February or as long as funding is available.
- Disaster Assistance:
The Individual and Family Grants program gives financial help to victims of major disasters when the President declares that an emergency or disaster area exists.
- Auxiliary Grants Program (AG):
Financial assistance is available for certain needy aged, blind or disabled persons in homes for adults and approved adult family care homes whose income is insufficient to cover the cost of their care.
- Medical Assistance (Medicaid):
This federal and state funded program provides medical care for specified needy persons. Eligibility for Medicaid is determined by the Social Services Department according to criteria established by the Department of Medical Assistance Services and the Virginia General Assembly.
- State and Local Hospitalization (SLH)
This state and local program provides direct payments for hospital services for individuals who are unable to pay for required medical services.
- Information and Referral
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The Department provides information to citizens on where to find services and refers to other agencies as appropriateAdministrative Services
This unit's role is to provide administrative services agency-wide. Its functions include budget, fiscal and accounting activities, customer services, personnel, purchasing, technical and program support, preparation and maintenance of cases, reports and correspondence.Services Unit
This unit provides or arranges employment related services such as job training for TANF recipients in order to make the family as self-sufficient as possible. Additionally, services are provided to adults and children in families where the members may be "at risk" of abuse, neglect or exploitation or in need of specific services. The 24 hour, seven-day-a-week child/adult abuse and neglect state HOTLINE number is 1-800-552-7096
- Welfare Reform/Employment Services:
This service provides special programs for eligible participants designed to motivate and "mainstream" them into the world of work. This program is offered to recipients of TANF. The goal is to transition these individuals from dependence on public assistance to employment within two years.- Child Day Care Services for TANF Children:
Child care services in approved homes or centers can be arranged so that certain parents can become employed or trained for employment.- Child Day Care Fees System Program:
Child care may be provided on a sliding skale for both former TANF recipients and income eligible families. This includes children participating in the Head Start program and substitute care needed for children requiring protection.- Child Day Care Program (Other):
Counseling is available regarding how to select child care providers. Referrals may be made to other child care resources.
Adult Protective Services:
Reports of adult abuse, neglect, and exploitation are received and investigated. Services are provided with the goal of protecting persons 60 years of age and older and incapacitated adults 18 years of age and older from abuse, neglect and exploitation. Callers remain anonymous.- Adult Services:
Services such as companion and adult day care services enable low-income, aged or disabled adults to remain in their homes. Other services protect adults from abuse, neglect or exploitation. If institutionalization is necessary, assistance is available in arranging appropriate long-term care. Assistance in transition back to the community is also provided when adults are released from institutions.
- Child Protective Services:
Reports of abuse and neglect of children under 18 are investigated with the goal of protecting children from physical, medical and educational neglect and from physical, sexual and emotional abuse. Services are also developed to prevent and alleviate family dysfunction. Callers may remain anonymous and confidentiality is always preserved.- Adoption Services:
Numerous services are necessary for children to become permanent members of a substitute family unit. Registries of families are studied and approved for adoption and of children available for adoption are maintained, while staff work to bring these families and children together and assure the legal requirements are met.- Foster Care/Foster Care Prevention:
Temporary substitute care is arranged for children who cannot be in their homes. The goal of foster care is a permanent home for each child. Returning to his/her own home is the first choice, followed by relative care, adoption, permanent foster care or independent living. Foster Care Prevention services are temporary, intensive support services (direct or purchased) for "at risk" families. These services are designed to support families in crisis and who are at risk of abusing/neglecting their children, or families whose child is before the juvenile court as a child in need of services.- Court Ordered Services Interstate Request:
Frequently, the local or neighboring courts will order home studies or case monitoring. There are also requests from other states for these services.- Family Preservation and Support Prevention Services:
Supportive services are offered to families at risk of abuse/neglect. These can be direct service, referral or purchase of services.- Emergency/Crisis Services:
Services are rendered based on available agency/community resources and are offered to families needing short term, one-time assistance to resolve a temporary crisis.
