Investigates complaints and provides services to abused or neglected children and their families. Reports of abuse and neglect of children under the age of 18 are investigated with the goal of protecting children from physical, mental, and medical neglect, and from sexual abuse and exploitation. Services are also provided to prevent and alleviate family crises.

Child Protective Services accepts reports of suspected child abuse and neglect. Child Protective Services are provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Reporting Child Abuse or Neglect
To report child abuse and neglect during business hours, contact our office at 540.245.5800 and choose option 6 to be directed to a CPS intake worker, or email svss-cpsintake@dss.virginia.gov

24-hour Hotline: 1.800.552.7096

Mandated Reporter Online Portal

Provide as much of the following information as possible when calling in a report of suspected child abuse or neglect:

• Age of the Child
• Alleged perpetrator, if known
• Home address or address where the child can be reached
• Name of the child wo is the alleged victim
• Name, phone number and address of the reporter (optional; will be kept anonymous)
• Parent's names, phone numbers and addresses, if known
• Specific physical and behavioral indicators of maltreatment
• Type of suspected abuse
       

While reports may remain anonymous, knowing the name and phone number of the reporter allows Child Protective Services to obtain additional information, if necessary. The agency staff taking the information for the report will ask for as many details about the maltreatment as the reporter is able to provide.  Caller information is not given out and will remain anonymous.

Click here for more information.

Investigates suspicions of abuse, neglect and/or exploitation for those aged 60 and over or between the ages of 18-59 with an alleged mental or physical incapacity. Services are offered, if necessary, to stop the abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation by providing the protection the adult requires with the least restriction to the client’s independence.

If you suspect abuse, neglect or exploitation of an elderly or disabled adult, please call APS Intake 540-942-6648, email svss-apsintake@dss.virginia.gov, or call the Virginia APS Hotline at (888) 832-3858.

Adult Abuse Awareness Information

• Signs of Adult Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation
• Protect Yourself from Scams
• Common Scams that Target the Elderly
• APS Statistics
• APS Infographic
• Greater Augusta Coalition Against Adult Abuse

Click here for more information.

Provides services to disabled adults and those individuals aged 60 and over. Adult Services workers may assist with appropriate out of home placements, when needed and it is the choice of the client, or arrange for home based care services to assist the client in remaining in his/her home. If you, or someone else you know, may need these services, please call the Adult Services Intake at 540.942.6648.

Service needs may include:

• Assisted Living Screenings

• Long-term Care Screenings

• Transportation

• Connection to resources in the community

 Guardianship Monitoring:

Clients who have a legally appointed guardian through the Court in Staunton City, Augusta County, or Waynesboro City, are monitored annually through Adult Services.

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Become a Volunteer with the Money Management Program

Volunteer Money Management Program (VMMP): Coordinates volunteer services to provide financial management for elderly or disabled clients who need assistance managing their Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Volunteer MMP Brochure

Apply to become a volunteer

Foster/Adoptive Parent Training

Information Sessions are scheduled through out the year.  For session and other information visit our Resource Family website.

Foster Care

The provision of a full range of casework, treatment, and community services for a planned period of time to a child who is abused or neglected, in need of services, and his/her family when a child has been identified as needing services to prevent or eliminate the need for foster care placement.

Adoption

Establishes the legal relationship of parent and child between persons who are not so related by birth, with the same mutual rights and obligations that exist between children and their birth parents. The primary purpose of adoption is to help children, whose parents are incapable of assuming or continuing parental responsibilities, to legally become part of a permanent family.

Foster Parenting

While many families provide foster care homes for children, the need for more individuals willing to share their home and heart with a child is on-going. Being a foster parent has many challenges and rewards. All foster parents receive support as part of a team of individuals and agencies, working together in the best interests of each child.

Shenandoah Valley Social Services offers information sessions about foster parenting throughout the year and provides concurrent training for prospective foster and adoptive parents.

 Click here for more information

Fostering Futures is a foster care program available to youth in foster care after age 18. This voluntary program enables your local department of social services (LDSS) to provide financial assistance, support and services until you are 21 years old to help you successfully transition to independence.

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Assists foster care youth ages 14 to 21 in developing the necessary skills to make the transition from foster care to adulthood. Services include activities that are based on a written assessment of life skills.

Skills Training

Personal Development

• Self Esteem
• Communication
• Financial Literacy
• Conflict Resolution
• Decision-making

Self-Sufficiency

• Career exploration
• Job Skills
• Money Management
• Housing
• Transportation
• Legal Issues

Eligibility

Foster children are eligible to receive services through ILP at the age of 14 and may continue to receive services until the age of 21. Services may be extended to youth after they have been discharged from foster care; if they meet the age criteria, age 21 is the cut-off for services.

Services

ILP services include, but are not limited to:

• Educational: Assistance in completing high school, general education degree and higher education including tuition assistance, admission fees, supplies, equipment and tutoring.
• Vocational Training: Job training/readiness, and job search and placement.
• Daily Living Skills/Aide: Assistance and training on budgeting, housing, money management, career planning, procurement and/or provision of services or items that help establish youth to live independently.
• Counseling: Individual or group
• Other Services: Training, meetings, conferences, retreats and workshops that relate to building competencies.

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ETV is designed to help youth aging out of foster care with the education, training and services needed for employment.

Post-Secondary Education & Training Assistance

The Education and Training Vouchers (ETV) program assists eligible foster care and adopted youth with post-secondary education and training expenses. Funding is supplied in the form of vouchers which can be applied to colleges, universities, community colleges and one-year training institutions.

Expenses Covered

• Tuition and fees
• Room and board
• Rental or purchase of required equipment, material or supplies
• Allowance for books, supplies and transportation
• Required residential training
• Special study projects
• Childcare

Eligibility

Youth 16 to 21

• Must have had their most recent foster care provided by the state of Virginia
• Must be eligible for services under Virginia's Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP) which is offered to all eligible foster care youth between the ages of 16 and 21. Each youth must have a written transitional independent living plan that is based on the youth's needs, regardless of goal or placement. They must participate directly in designing their own program activities and must accept personal responsibility for achieving independence.
•  Must have received their high school diploma or equivalent, or GED.
• Youth pursuing post-secondary education should complete and submit the Federal Application for Student Aid (FAFSA). Specific instructions to help in filling out the questions about the category "ward of the court" can be found under "Educational Opportunities."
• Must have initiated their post-secondary education or training before reaching the age of 21.
• Must make satisfactory academic progress by maintaining at least a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale or have an academic standing consistent with the institution's graduation requirements for the federal student financial aid program.

Youth 21 to 23

• Must meet all eligibility requirements for youth ages 16 to 21 listed above.
• Must be a participant in the voucher program on the date they become 21 to be eligible for assistance until age 23, as long as they are enrolled in a post-secondary education or training program and are making satisfactory progress toward completion of that program.

Adopted Youth

Youth adopted from Virginia's foster care system after reaching age 16 are eligible for the ETV Program as long as they meet the same eligibility requirements for foster youth and who would have been otherwise eligible for services under Virginia's CFCIP.

Funding

• Awards are based on need and availability of funds.
• Vouchers are provided up to $5,000 per year per youth.
  
  

Provides child-focused, cost effective services to troubled and at-risk youth and their families.

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The primary goals of the Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF) program are to prevent the unnecessary separation of children from their families, improve the quality of care and services to children and their families, and ensure permanency for children by reuniting them with their parents. PSSF is a grant-funded program with oversight from the Local Department of Social Services.

Assistance could be in the form of budgeting, short-term case management or assistance in linking you to other community resources. Limited/onetime financial assistance may also be available if the program criteria are met. Financial assistance is not typically given on an emergency basis and it may take up to two weeks to process your application. 

Click here for more information.

Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF) Application