The IRB reviews proposed human research studies to ensure compliance with federal (45 CFR 46 et seq.) and state (22VAC40-890-10 et seq.) human research regulations. The essence of regulatory compliance is ensuring the protection of the rights, welfare, and wellbeing of clients, staff or others who volunteer to participate in research. This is accomplished through IRB oversight of the research plan and the informed consent process.
Human research is designed to address research questions or hypotheses using:
- surveys,
- administrative personally identifiable information (PII),
- focus groups,
- interviews, or
- observation.
Emphasis is on research activities that will be conducted for the purpose(s) of:
- a demonstration project,
- increasing understanding about program effectiveness,
- discovering evidence based practice(s),
- identifying client outcomes that can be broadly applied (affects other clients in other regions, states, etc.)
- sharing data/outcomes/analyses that may influence behavior, practice, policy, theory, or future research design,
- presenting at regional, national, or international meetings,
- publishing in an academic journal or other media
In contrast, examples of internal activities specific to an agency that are not human research and do not require IRB review includes:
- quality improvement,
- internal reports specific to an agency program,
- in-house program evaluations (e.g. training evaluations, HR surveys, staff satisfaction surveys, use of administrative data for program monitoring or performance, etc.),
- Accreditation studies, or
- Press inquiries.
The proposed research could involve activities conducted or authorized by any of the following:
- VDSS
- Local departments of social services
- VDSS-licensed facilities; or
- VDSS-authorized contractors
Questions or IRB applications should be submitted to irb@dss.virginia.gov
Information for Research Participants
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Subsection 1: Questions to ask before you agree to participate in a research study
The federal government's Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) suggests some questions that you should ask before you agree to participate in a research study:
- Why is the research being done?
- What will be done to me as part of the research?
- How will I benefit from the research?
- Could the research hurt me?
- What will the researcher do with my information?
- Will the research cost me anything?
- How long will the study last?
- What happens if I decide to leave the study early?
- Who should I call if I have a question about the research?
For resources designed to help you better understand research and find the information to help you decide whether to participate in research click this link: www.hhs.gov/about-research-participation
Subsection 2: Bill of Rights for Research Participants
As a research participant, you have the right to:
- Be free of pressure from anyone else when deciding if you wish to take part in a study
- Make up your mind about taking part in a study without being rushed
- Be told what question, topic, or issue is being studied
- Be told what will happen and what the procedures are
- Be told about the potential risks or discomforts, if any, of the research
- Be told if you can expect any benefit from taking part and, if so, what the benefit might be
- Be told if there will be no direct benefit to you
- Ask questions about the study at any time before, during or after the study
- Refuse to take part in the study at any time
- Quit after the study starts, without any penalty
- Receive a copy of your Informed Consent Form to keep.
Do you have a question, concern or complaint about your involvement in a research study or your rights as a research participant? If so, please feel free to contact the VDSS IRB or the VDSS research participant's Ombudsman. You may also call us collect at 804-726-7076 (IRB chair) or 804-726-7617 (Ombudsman).
Procedures
IRB Operations
- Commonwealth of Virginia Laws Relevant to Human Subjects Research and Informed Consent (PDF)
- Guidance for Research Funded by DOE and NIDDR (PDF)
- Guidance for Research Funded by DOJ (PDF)
- IRB Member Responsibilities and Conflicts of Interest (PDF)
- Initial Review Checklist for IRB Members (DOCX)
- Procedures for Recording Minutes at Convened Meetings (PDF)
- Reliance Agreements (PDF)
Review Types
- Continuing Review (PDF)
- Disclosure Standards for Research Determined Exempt (PDF)
- Study Closure (PDF)
Informed Consent
Children as Research Participants
Quick Start for Investigators
Forms
- Adverse Event Reporting Form (DOCX)
- Continuing Review Form (DOCX)
- Exempt Status Study Closure Form (DOCX)
- Modification to Approved Study (DOCX)
- Request for Exemption Determination (DOCX)
- Request for Exemption Determination (DOCX)
- Request for Initial Review (DOCX)
- Request of Waiver of Informed Consent (DOC)
- Request of Waiver of Informed Consent (PDF)
- Study Close-Out Report (DOCX)
Resources and Reports
Results of Approved Projects
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2017 FY
2016 FY
- Fairfax County Department of Family Services Customer Satisfaction Survey (Ellis et al., Fairfax DFS) (PDF)
- Impact of Burnout, Compassion Fatigue and Vicarious Trauma Among Child Protective Services Workers (Harrison & Rivera, VCU) (PDF)
- VDSS Family Partnership Meeting Participant Survey: Pilot Study (Jennings, VDSS) (PDF)
2015 FY
2014 FY
- An Examination of Activities to Improve Employee Well-Being (S. Kaplan, George Mason University) (PDF)
- An Examination of Two Positive Organizational Interventions (Winslow et al., George Mason University (PDF)
2013 FY
- Adult Protective Services Assessment of Risk Tool (APSART) Validity Study (Albemarle County DSS) (PDF)
- Formal and Informal Accountability on Child Welfare Program Performance (K. Hwang, Virginia Tech) (PDF)
- Understanding the Rates, Causes, and Costs of Churning in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (G. Mills, The Urban Institute) (PDF)
2012 FY
- Effect of Repeat Foster Placement Disruptions on Duration of Future Placements and Implications for Children with Reactive Attachment Disorder (M. Kilgus et al., Carilion School of Medicine) (PDF)
- Virginia Infant and Toddler Specialist Network Evaluation Study (2011-2012) (PDF)
2011 FY
- 1-2-3 READ! Virginia (2010-2011) (Child Development Resources) (PDF)
- Aging Out of Foster Care (Co-PIs: Raskin & Harris-Rome, GMU) (PDF)
- Aging Out of Foster Care (PowerPoint) (Co-PIs: Raskin & Harris-Rome, GMU) (PDF)
- Assessing Need for Healthy Lifestyle Interventions for Foster Care Children (Estabrooks & Parks, Virginia Tech) (PDF)
- Influence of Human Capital on Grandparent's Parenting Style and Wellbeing Outcomes for Grandchildren in Their Care (K. Dial, Norfolk State University) (PDF)
- Kinship Diversion Qualitative Research: Virginia Findings (Malm & Allen, ChildTrends) (PDF)
- Kinship Diversion Qualitative Research: Virginia Findings (PowerPoint) (Malm & Allen, ChildTrends) (PPTX)
- Virginia Infant and Toddler Specialist Network (SFY 2011) (S. Osborne, Child Development Resources) (PDF)
- Virginia Star Quality Initiative Family Child Care Home Demonstration Project (based on Powerpoint) (PDF)
- Virginia Star Quality Initiative Family Child Care Home Provider Demonstration Pilot Evaluation Report (Bradburn, Virginia Tech) (PDF)
2010 FY
- 1-2-3 READ! Virginia Evaluation Plan (2009-2010) (S. Osborne, Child Development Resources) (PDF)
- CPS Workers' Decisionmaking About Parents With Intellectual Disabilities (Proctor, Penn State University) (PDF)
- ProjectDATE: Risky Relationships and Teen Dating Violence (PI: Reppucci, UVA) (PDF)
- Virginia Toddler and Infant Specialist Network (2009-2010)(S. Osborne, Child Development Resources) (PDF)
2009 FY
2008 FY
