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  Child Protective Services (CPS)  
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About CPS

The goal of Child Protective Services (CPS) is to identify, assess and provide services to children and families in an effort to protect children, preserve families, whenever possible, and prevent further maltreatment. Child Protective Services is non-punitive in its approach and is directed toward enabling families to provide adequate care for their children.

Local departments of social services are responsible for receiving reports of abuse and neglect; conducting investigations to determine the validity of the CPS reports; and providing services that enhance child safety and prevent further abuse and neglect to families and children.

CPS also develops statewide public awareness and education programs and administrates state and federal grants to prevent abuse and neglect.

Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline

image of a square resembling a bullet About the Hotline

The Virginia Department of Social Services operates a statewide Child Protective Services (CPS) Hotline 24/7 to support local departments of social services by receiving reports of child abuse and neglect and referring them to the appropriate local department of social services. The CPS Hotline is staffed by trained social workers.

Anyone can report suspected child abuse or neglect to a local department of social services or to the CPS Hotline. Callers will be asked to provide as much information as possible about the child, the alleged abuser and the incident. You are not required to give your name when you make the report, but if you do identify yourself, the local department of social services will be able to contact you for further information if needed and will be able to inform you of actions that were taken.

Each report is evaluated by the local department of social services to determine if the report information meets the legal definition of child abuse or neglect and whether CPS has the authority and responsibility to conduct a family assessment or an investigation to determine the child's immediate safety needs and to determine if the family needs services.

image of a square resembling a bullet Criteria for Child Abuse

  • Alleged victim is under the age of 18 at the time of the report
  • Alleged abuser is in a caretaking role
  • Alleged abuse or neglect meets the definition of abuse or neglect as defined by the CPS laws, regulations and policy
  • The Virginia Department of Social Services local agency has jurisdiction to respond to the report

image of a square resembling a bullet Hotline Numbers

  • In Virginia: (800) 552-7096
  • Out-of-state: (804) 786-8536
  • Hearing-impaired: (800) 828-1120

CPS Hotline staff may provide general information and educational materials about child abuse or neglect to callers from the general public, child care providers, school educators and medical professionals on recognizing and reporting suspected child abuse or neglect.

CPS Hotline staff is also trained to provide crisis counseling and intervention if needed, and can provide information and referral assistance to callers to locate prevention and/or treatment programs in their area.

CPS Prevention Services

image of a square resembling a bullet About Prevention Services

Child Protective Services at the Virginia Department of Social Services collaborates with existing networks of public and private non-profit child abuse and neglect prevention programs to provide child abuse and neglect prevention services to families throughout Virginia. Some examples are listed below.

image of a red square resembling a bullet Program Funding & Collaboration

  • Blue Ribbon Plan to Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect in Virginia 2005-2009:
    In 2004 the Virginia Department of Social Services and Prevent Child Abuse Virginia partnered with public and private sector organizations and citizens to develop a state plan for the prevention of child abuse and neglect. The plan contains nine comprehensive strategies to increase child safety and family and well-being.

  • Community Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP):
    The Virginia Department of Social Services receives federal CBCAP funds from the Office of Child Abuse and Neglect (OCAN), Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Funds awarded to Virginia through this grant are used to support the development, operation and expansion of community-based, prevention-focused programs and activities. For FY 2008, a total of $591,802 was awarded to 13 projects.

  • Healthy Families:
    Healthy Families is a national program model designed to help expectant and new parents get their children off to a healthy start. Families participate voluntarily in the program and receive home visiting and referrals from trained staff. By providing services to overburdened families, Healthy Families fits into the continuum of services provided to families in many communities.

  • Hugs and Kisses:
    Celebrating the 25th year of operation, this nationally acclaimed, award-winning child sexual abuse prevention program for children K-5 tours local schools in Virginia annually. The production by Theatre IV is supported through funds allocated from the Virginia General Assembly for awareness and prevention. Safety messages are presented to as many as 50,000 children in up to 159 performances per school year.

  • Virginia Child Protection Newsletter:
    The Virginia Child Protection Newsletter (VCPN) is published by James Madison University through a contract with the Virginia Department of Social Services. Each newsletter is focused on one or more topics in child welfare. The articles provide a survey of literature and also address current practice issues.

  • Virginia Coalition for Child Abuse Prevention Month:
    This statewide child abuse and neglect prevention effort promotes public awareness through printing and distribution of materials to approximately 2,000 individuals and agencies in local communities every April.

  • Virginia Family Violence Prevention Program (VFVPP):
    Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention
    VFVPP Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention funding was established by the Virginia legislature to assist in the development of programs focused on primary and secondary child abuse and neglect prevention. For FY 2008, a total of $500,000 was awarded to 11 projects.

CPS Treatment Services

image of a square resembling a bullet About Treatment Services

Local departments of social services provide direct and purchased treatment services to families. Funding sources include the Social Services Block Grant, local funding and grants administered by the VDSS as described in the following:

  • Victims of Crime Act (VOCA): This provides federal funds that are awarded to public and private non-profit agencies to deliver direct treatment services to child victims of abuse and neglect as well as to adults who were sexually abused as children. Forty-two programs geographically distributed throughout the state have been awarded $1,390,096 for the period July 1, 2004 - 2005.

  • The Interdisciplinary Child Abuse and Neglect Advocacy Projects: These projects provide federal funds to five community coalitions for the development and enhancement of community-based infrastructures for the investigation, prosecution, forensic medical management and treatment of child abuse and neglect for the period of July 1, 2002 - June 30, 2005.

CPS Publications

Forms/Applications

Mandated Reporters

Manuals

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image of a red square resembling a bullet 07-2010

image of a red square resembling a bullet 03-2009

image of a red square resembling a bullet 07-2008

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image of a red square resembling a bullet 12-2006

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