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Service Programs
Available Assistance
In addition to benefit payments, local social service agencies offer a wide variety of services to meet social needs. If you have any questions or would like more details, please contact the Virginia Department of Social Services at 804-726-7000.
Service Programs
Adoption Services
The purpose of adoption services is to help children who have been permanently and legally separated from their birth parents become permanent members of a new family. The Virginia State Department of Social Services maintains a registry of children available for adoption as well those families who have approved home studies. Information can be obtained through 800-DO-ADOPT or visit the Adopt Us Kids website. This Department engages in a variety of activities designed to find families for this community's waiting children and raise awareness including annual Adoption Celebrations and Heart Galleries.
Adult Protective Services
Protective services are provided to aged, blind, and disabled adults who are unable to protect themselves from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Services are offered regardless of the person's income or financial resources. Persons may live alone, with relatives, or in nursing homes, adult care residences, hospitals, or with people to whom they are not related. Adult Protective Service complaints may be made by calling 540-387-6040 during normal business hours. After-hours emergency complaints should be made to the local police department by calling 540-562-3265 or by calling the state hot-line at 888-832-3858.
Adult Services
Companion services enable aged or disabled adults to remain in their homes rather than move to institutions. Other services protect adults from abuse, neglect, or exploitation. If institutionalization becomes necessary, arrangements are made for appropriate care.
Child Protective Services
Reports of abuse and neglect of children under 18 are investigated with the goal of protecting children from physical, mental, sexual, emotional, and medical neglect as well as from abuse and exploitation. Services are also developed to prevent and alleviate family dysfunction and child abuse / neglect. Child Protective Service complaints may be made by calling 540-387-6040 during normal business hours. After-hours emergency complaints should be made to the local police department by calling 540-562-3265 or by calling the state hot line at 800-552-7096.
Child Care Services
Child Care Services provides low-income families with financial assistance to find affordable, quality child care for their children. The program seeks to educate parents and promote informed decision-making when selecting a child care provider; support parents trying to achieve independence from public assistance; and increase the quality and number of child care options available to all families. The Virginia Department of Social Services is excited to announce the new Virginia Electronic Child Care (VA -ECC) system. This new system allows child care vendors to track the attendance of children who are authorized to receive child care subsidy. It also reduces the reporting requirements and replaces the payment processing procedures that vendors previously used. In the fall of 2011, the VA - ECC system was implemented across the state. Roanoke County Department of Social Services served as a "Pilot Agency" beginning September 1, 2011. Detailed information about the implementation process is provided for Child Care Vendors and Parents and Guardians on the VaDSS website under Child Care Assistance.
Early & Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, & Treatment (EPSDT)
Certain preventive health services are available for Medicaid recipients under 21 years of age. Services are provided in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Health.
Foster Care
Temporary substitute care is arranged by court order for children who cannot remain in their own home and represents a dramatic response to circumstances that cannot be remedied by less drastic alternatives that are available to maintain the child in the custody of their caretakers. The goal of foster care is a permanent home for each child and efforts are made for reunification with family. Adoption is another avenue for permanency should a child be unable to return home. Roanoke County is an active participant in Virginia's Child Welfare Transformation project that strives to ensure permanency, safety and well being for all children.
Foster Parenting
Would you like to make a difference in a child's life? We are actively seeking safe and stable homes that can meet the needs of children in foster care. All of our families are now being dually approved for foster care and adoption. Requirements include, but are not limited to, a home assessment, background checks, DMV records check, medical exam, tuberculosis screening, financial statement, and 27 hours of PRIDE preservice training. For our foster parent orientation schedule and more information contact us at 540-387-6087, ext. 8923 or 540-387-6087, ext. 8850.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment & Training (SNAPET)
SNAPET provides Employment, Training, Education and Supportive Services to customers who receive Food Stamps. SNAP Stamp household members between the ages of 18 to 60 who are unemployed or working less than 30 hours per week, who's youngest child is 6 years old, are required to participate in the SNAPET program unless they meet an exemption.
Virginia Initiative for Employment not Welfare (VIEW)
VIEW provides Employment, Training, Education, and Supportive Services to customers receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). VIEW is the work component of the Virginia Independence Program (VIP) which combines work and work related activities with education and training. TANF recipients are required to participate in VIEW when their youngest child turns 18 months old, unless they meet an exemption.