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Child Abuse & Foster Care Prevention

This includes services to families who have no current, valid CPS referral, but whose children may be at risk for maltreatment and subsequent placement in the foster care system. These families may have been the subject of a CPS referral, but whose case was determined to be invalid or assessed at low to moderate risk.

Early Child Abuse & Foster Care Prevention (includes manual)

Manual

Effective 04-2018
Effective 04-2013

Studies & Survey Results

Resources

What Local Agencies are Doing

Additional Resources

Child Protective Services (CPS) 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. For information contact the Child Protective Services Unit at 804-726-7555.

Program Funding & Collaboration

  • 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.

  • 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:
    Performing since 1983, 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, a division of the Virginia Repertory Theatre, 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 160 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 Child Abuse and Neglect Program
    Virginia 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.


Child Abuse Prevention Month 2020

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Annually the governor designates April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Virginia. Individuals and organizations in Virginia and across the United States mark the month with public awareness efforts and by distributing blue ribbons for people to wear and display.

Child abuse and neglect is the cause of more than 1,700 deaths each year in the United States. What can you do to save a child from abuse, neglect, and death?

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