This division promotes safety, permanency and well-being for the children, families and individuals in Virginia. It is composed of four units:

• Adult Services
• Child Protective Services (child abuse and neglect)
• Office of Family Violence (domestic violence), and
• Permanency (adoption, foster care - including independent living, interstate/intercountry placement of children, respite services and safe and stable family services)

The division's programs are designed to address those who are most in need. It balances effective intervention (when necessary) and emphasis on personal responsibility for safety, stability and well-being. The programs are state supervised and locally administered. Those operated at the local level are:

• Adoptions
• Adult Services
• Adult Protective Services
• Auxiliary Grants
• Child Abuse and Neglect Toll-Free Hotline
• Child Protective Services
• Domestic Violence
• Foster Care
• Independent Living
• Safe and Stable Families

Division programs that are state administered are:

• Interstate Adoptions
• Virginia Caregivers' Grant Program

Training for the local department of social services workers is handled by the Virginia Institute of Social Services Training Activities (VISSTA), which provides training at five locations.

Goals

Among of the division's goals are:

• Supporting communities in protecting children and adults as well as strengthening families
• Increasing availability of improved services to adults, children and families
• Increasing safe and stable permanent living arrangements for children and adults
• Improving services to children, youth, adults and families
• Improving health care access and information for children, young adults, adults and families
• Partnering with localities to utilize all available resources
• Increasing administrative efficiencies in mandated services
• Improve coordination of policies and program expectations within the department and other state agencies
• Exploring technology solutions that will improve efficiency and accuracy
• Establishing a statewide quality improvement process for services to children, adults and families
• Promoting a positive image for the Division of Family Services
• Improving customer services
• Promoting excellence in service delivery through the recruitment, development and retention of a diverse workforce who demonstrate competence, expertise, professionalsim and dedication