For Immediate Release
July 15, 2003

Richmond - The Virginia Department of Social Services today announced that Virginia has been awarded a $990,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families.

The grant will fund a community demonstration project in the Hampton Roads area to enhance parenting skills and family relationships.

Virginia Secretary for Health and Human Resources Jane Woods said, "Virginia competed for this grant, and is one of only three in the nation to receive it. The demonstration project will involve public, non-profit and private organizations joining together to improve parenting and parenting relationships, healthy families and fatherhood for the benefit of the child, parents and family."

"This demonstration project will permit us to look at the whole family and take steps to reinforce responsible parenting, family formation and development, and healthy family relationships," said Social Services Commissioner Maurice A. Jones.

VDSS Division of Child Support Enforcement Director Nick Young said the coalition’s work also will aid child support enforcement efforts by establishing paternity and obligations, and enforcing child support obligations.

The demonstration will link clients to resources and expand services in Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson and York County. It will serve families that enter the system through social services, child support enforcement, fatherhood programs, employment programs, the courts, referral from community agencies and self referrals.

Local and state matching funds bring the total to $1,485,000 over the four-year life of the project.

Marcella Williamson
Public Affairs
(804) 692-1031
mkw900@dss.state.va.us

Charles Ingram
Public Affairs
(804) 692-1619
cij900@dss.state.va.us
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