/
Office of Background Investigations / Foster Care Providers
The Office of Background Investigations (OBI) has two units that support Resource Family work.
Criminal Background Investigations Unit
The Criminal Background Investigations Unit screens national criminal fingerprint records to determine an applicant’s eligibility based on barrier crime convictions. These are conducted for the following:
• Foster and adoptive resource parents
• Relatives
• Birth parents
• Adult household members
For fingerprint‑related questions, email backgrounds@dss.virginia.gov.
Fingerprint Appointment Requirements
Before scheduling a fingerprint appointment, contact the requesting agency to get:
• The Fieldprint code
• The Facility ID number
The Central Registry Search Unit processes search requests using Virginia’s Central Registry, which contains the names of individuals with founded cases of child abuse or neglect. Anyone with a founded result is not eligible to work with or volunteer with children. Determinations are sent only to the person or organization that submitted the search request.
For Central Registry questions, email crs_operations@dss.virginia.gov
Local Departments of Social Services (LDSS) must use the Provider Portal to submit Central Registry requests. LDSS will receive both Central Registry and fingerprint results through the Provider Portal.
For additional resources, please visit the links below:
Click here for access to a list of barrier crimes used to screen criminal records.
Find my local department