Access and Visitation Grant
Each year, the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) provides approximately $10 million in mandatory federal grant funding to states and territories to operate the Access and Visitation (AV) program, which helps increase noncustodial parents' access to and time with their children. States are permitted to use grant funds to develop programs and provide services.
Historically, DCSE has utilized AV funding to facilitate services such as mediation, parenting education, parenting plan development, and supervised parenting time (a.k.a. "visitation"), as well as related trainings. In Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2025, VDSS issued a sub-award to Total Action for Progress (TAP) to provide supervised parenting time and exchange services through their Sabrina's Place program based in Roanoke. DCSE also offers limited co-parenting education courses for participants of its Family Engagement Services program.
This website is supported by Grant Award Number 2401VASAVP from the OCSE within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Neither the Administration for Children and Families nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Administration for Children and Families and the OCSE.
Safe Access for Victims' Economic Security (SAVES) Grant
In early September 2022, DCSE was awarded the Safe Access for Victims' Economic Security (SAVES) Grant. Virginia's project, titled "Virginia SAVES," will be a close partnership with a national SAVES Center, our federal partners at OCSE, and Virginia's statewide domestic violence coalition to increase safety measures throughout child support and parenting time services for victims and survivors of domestic violence.
In the early spring of 2023, the SAVES project team applied for and received an additional $385,500 in supplementary funding to expand the capacity to improve safety for families in Virginia. This supplementary funding is specifically for enhancing safety during voluntary paternity establishment in birth facilities, engaging our partners in the court to promote parenting time arrangements that incorporate safety modifications, and addressing disparities in access to parenting time services/arrangements.
This website is supported by Grant Number 90FD0252 from the OCSE within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Neither the Administration for Children and Families nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Administration for Children and Families and the OCSE.
Digital Marketing
The Digital Marketing to Increase Participation in the Child Support Program grant, sponsored by the federal OCSE, was a 24-month demonstration project with the goal of researching various digital marketing approaches and partnerships to reach parents that could benefit from child support services, and/or to create or improve two-way digital communication and engagement with parents.
Digital Marketing Resources
- Communication Plan (PDF)
- Family Law Resources
- Final Report (PDF)
- Interim Evaluation: Intervention Cycle 1 (Find) (PDF)
- Interim Evaluation: Intervention Cycle 2 (Engage) (PDF)
- Interim Evaluation: Intervention Cycle 3 (Educate) (PDF)
This website is supported by Grant Number 90FD0218-01-00 from the ACF/OCSE Office of Discretionary Grants within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Neither the Administration for Children and Families nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Administration for Children and Families and the ACF/OCSE Office of Discretionary Grants.
Charting a Course for Economic Mobility and Responsible Parenting Grant
On July 7, 2021, DCSE was awarded the Charting a Course for Economic Mobility and Responsible Parenting Grant. This will allow us to partner with two agencies that are already serving youth audiences and instill DCSE knowledge about the financial, legal, and emotional impacts of being a parent.
This website is supported by Grant Number 90FD0248-01-05 from the ACF/OCSE Office of Discretionary Grants within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Neither the Administration for Children and Families nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Administration for Children and Families and the ACF/OCSE Office of Discretionary Grants.
Intergovernmental Case Processing
DCSE has partnered with the child support agencies in Maryland and North Carolina to apply for a grant from OCSE aimed at improving intergovernmental case processing and collections. At the end of the study, we will be able to provide a roadmap for implementation in other states.
Intergovernmental Case Processing Resources
This website is supported by Grant Number 90FD0231-01-00 from the ACF/OCSE Office of Discretionary Grants within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Neither the Administration for Children and Families nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Administration for Children and Families and the ACF/OCSE Office of Discretionary Grants.
NextGen Employment Services
DCSE was awarded the NextGen demonstration grant in September 2024. Virginia's project, "NextGen FIRST: Family, Income, Resources, Support, Training," is designed to help parents who are ordered to pay child support. The program will give parents the tools they need to find jobs, support their children, and stay connected as a family.
This work is funded by a federal grant and focuses on helping parents who may face challenges like not having a job, being involved in the justice system, or needing support to get back on their feet. The goal is simple: help parents succeed so their children can thrive. NextGen FIRST will be available in Virginia's Crater workforce region in the coming months. The program will work with local departments of social services, job centers, and community groups to create new pathways to employment and stability for families.
Funding for this project was approved by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Grant Number 90FD0269.
For more information, contact NextGen@dss.virginia.gov
Contact Us
If you have any questions about child support grants, email the Grants Team at:
dcse-initiatives-r@dss.virginia.gov
For questions about your child support case, please contact the Division of Child Support Enforcement by emailing askdcse@dss.virginia.gov or calling the Call Center at 1 (800) 468-8894.
