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The goal of Child Protective Services (CPS) is to identify, assess and provide services to children and families in an effort to protect children, preserve families, whenever possible, and prevent further maltreatment. Child Protective Services is non-punitive in its approach and is directed toward enabling families to provide adequate care for their children.
Local departments of social services are responsible for receiving reports of abuse and neglect; conducting investigations to determine the validity of the CPS reports; and providing services that enhance child safety and prevent further abuse and neglect to families and children.
CPS also develops statewide public awareness and education programs and administrates state and federal grants to prevent abuse and neglect.
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About the Hotline
The Virginia Department of Social Services operates a statewide Child Protective Services (CPS) Hotline 24/7 to support local departments of social services by receiving reports of child abuse and neglect and referring them to the appropriate local department of social services. The CPS Hotline is staffed by trained Protective Service Hotline Specialists.
Anyone can report suspected child abuse or neglect to a local department of social services or to the CPS Hotline. Callers will be asked to provide as much information as possible about the child, the alleged abuser and the incident. You are not required to give your name when you make the report, but if you do identify yourself, the local department of social services will be able to contact you for further information if needed and will be able to inform you of actions that were taken.
Each report is sent to the proper local social service agency to be evaluated to determine whether the report information meets the legal definition of child abuse or neglect and whether CPS has the authority and responsibility to conduct a family assessment or an investigation to determine the child's immediate safety needs and to determine if the family needs services.
Criteria for Child Abuse
- Alleged victim is under the age of 18 at the time of the report
- Alleged abuser is in a caretaking role
- Alleged abuse or neglect meets the definition of abuse or neglect as defined by the CPS laws, regulations and policy
- The Virginia Department of Social Services local agency has jurisdiction to respond to the report
Hotline Numbers
- In Virginia: (800) 552-7096
- Out-of-state: (804) 786-8536
CPS Hotline staff may provide general information and educational materials about child abuse or neglect to callers from the general public, child care providers, school educators and medical professionals on recognizing and reporting suspected child abuse or neglect.
CPS Hotline staff is also trained to provide crisis counseling and intervention if needed, and can provide information and referral assistance to callers to locate prevention and/or treatment programs in their area.
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About Treatment Services
Local departments of social services provide direct and purchased treatment services to families. Funding sources include the Social Services Block Grant, local funding and grants administered by the VDSS as described in the following:
- Victims of Crime Act (VOCA): This provides federal funds that are awarded
to public and private non-profit agencies to deliver direct treatment services
to child victims of abuse and neglect as well as to adults who were sexually
abused as children. Forty programs geographically distributed throughout
the state have been awarded $1,755,834 for the period July 1, 2012 - 2013.
- Child Advocacy Centers: Child Advocacy Centers provide comprehensive, culturally competent, multidisciplinary team services to victims of child abuse in a dedicated, child-friendly setting. In FY 14, the Department of Social Services distributed $931, 000 in general funds to 14 local Child Advocacy Centers and the Child Advocacy Centers of Virginia (CACVA) to provide an array of services to children and their families.
- Victims of Crime Act (VOCA): This provides federal funds that are awarded
to public and private non-profit agencies to deliver direct treatment services
to child victims of abuse and neglect as well as to adults who were sexually
abused as children. Forty programs geographically distributed throughout
the state have been awarded $1,755,834 for the period July 1, 2012 - 2013.
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(Note: Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese translations are not available in hard copy. You can, however, print the electronic copy below. For hard copies of other CPS brochures, contact your local department of social services.)
Investigation
- Child Protective Services - A Guide to Investigative Services (PDF)
- Child Protective Services - A Guide to Investigative Services (Korean) (PDF)
- Child Protective Services - A Guide to Investigative Services (Simplified Chinese) (PDF)
- Child Protective Services - A Guide to Investigative Services (Spanish) (PDF)
- Child Protective Services - A Guide to Investigative Services (Vietnamese) (PDF)
Family Assessment
- Child Protective Services - A Guide to Family Assessment (PDF)
- Child Protective Services - A Guide to Family Assessment (Chinese) (PDF)
- Child Protective Services - A Guide to Family Assessment (Korean) (PDF)
- Child Protective Services - A Guide to Family Assessment (Spanish) (PDF)
- Child Protective Services - A Guide to Family Assessment (Vietnamese) (PDF)
Out of Family Investigation
- A Guide to Investigative Procedures in Out of Family Settings (PDF)
- A Guide to Investigative Procedures in Out of Family Settings (Spanish) (PDF)
Appeals & Fair Hearings
- Appeals & Fair Hearings (PDF)
- Appeals & Fair Hearings (Chinese) (PDF)
- Appeals & Fair Hearings (Korean) (PDF)
- Appeals & Fair Hearings (Spanish) (PDF)
- Appeals & Fair Hearings (Vietnamese) (PDF)
General
- A Guide to Mandated Reporters (PDF)
- Children Home Alone (PDF)
- Perinatal Substance Use: Promoting Healthy Outcomes (PDF)
- Recognizing & Reporting Child Abuse & Neglect in Virginia (PDF)
- Recognizing & Reporting Child Abuse & Neglect in Virginia (Spanish) (PDF)
- Recognizing Child Abuse & Neglect - A Guide for School Employees (PDF)
- Shaken Baby Syndrome (PDF)
- Shaken Baby Syndrome (Spanish) (PDF)
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- CPS Intake Tool (PDF)
- Child Fatality Checklist (PDF)
- Family Risk Assessment Tool (PDF)
- Family Service Agreement (English) - 8/15 (PDF)
- Family Service Agreement (Spanish) - 8/15 (PDF)
- Family Strengths and Needs Assessment (FSNA) (PDF)
- Notification to Law Enforcement from CPS (PDF)
- Request for Search of the Child Protective Services (CPS) Central Registry (PDF)
- Risk Reassessment Tool (PDF)
- Safety Assessment Tool (April 2015) (PDF)
- Safety Plan (PDF)
- Safety Plan (Spanish) (PDF)
- Service Application (PDF)
- Service Application (Spanish) (PDF)
- Sworn Statement of Affirmation for Foster and Adoptive Parents (PDF)
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10-2016
- Section 01 Introduction to CPS (PDF)
- Section 02 Definitions of Abuse and Neglect (PDF)
- Section 03 Complaints and Reports (PDF)
- Section 04 Family Assessment and Investigation (PDF)
- Section 05 Out of Family Investigations (PDF)
- Section 06 Services (PDF)
- Section 07 Appeals (PDF)
- Section 08 Judicial Proceedings (PDF)
- Section 09 Confidentiality (PDF)
- Section 10 Substance Exposed Infants (PDF)
- Section 11 Child Deaths (PDF)
- Transmittal 273 (PDF)
01-2016
- Section 01 Introduction to CPS (PDF)
- Section 02 Definitions of Abuse and Neglect (PDF)
- Section 03 Complaints and Reports (PDF)
- Section 04 Family Assessment and Investigation (PDF)
- Section 05 Out of Family Investigation (PDF)
- Section 06 Services (PDF)
- Section 07 Appeals (PDF)
- Section 08 Judicial Proceedings (PDF)
- Section 09 Confidentiality (PDF)
- Section 10 Substance Exposed Infants (PDF)
- Section 11 Child Deaths (PDF)
- Transmittal 271 (PDF)
07-2015
- Section 01 Introduction to CPS (PDF)
- Section 02 Definitions of Abuse and Neglect (PDF)
- Section 03 Complaints and Reports (PDF)
- Section 04 Family Assessment and Investigation (PDF)
- Section 05 Out of Family Investigations (PDF)
- Section 06 Services (PDF)
- Section 07 Appeals (PDF)
- Section 08 Judicial Proceedings (PDF)
- Section 09 Confidentiality (PDF)
- Section 10 Substance Exposed Infants (PDF)
- Section 11 Child Deaths (PDF)
- Transmittal 269 (PDF)
03-2015
- 03-2015 Section 01 Introduction to CPS (PDF)
- 03-2015 Section 02 Definitions of Abuse and Neglect (PDF)
- 03-2015 Section 03 Complaints and Reports (PDF)
- 03-2015 Section 04 Family Assessment and Investigation (PDF)
- 03-2015 Section 05 Out of Family Investigations (PDF)
- 03-2015 Section 06 Services (PDF)
- 03-2015 Section 07 Appeals (PDF)
- 03-2015 Section 08 Judicial Proceedings (PDF)
- 03-2015 Section 09 Confidentiality (PDF)
- 03-2015 Section 10 Substance Exposed Infants (PDF)
- 03-2015 Section 11 Child Deaths (PDF)
- Transmittal#268 (PDF)
08-2014
- 08-2014 Section 01 Introduction to CPS (PDF)
- 08-2014 Section 02 Definitions of Abuse and Neglect (PDF)
- 08-2014 Section 03 Complaints and Reports (PDF)
- 08-2014 Section 04 Family Assessment and Investigation (PDF)
- 08-2014 Section 05 Out of Family Investigations (PDF)
- 08-2014 Section 06 Services (PDF)
- 08-2014 Section 07 Appeals (PDF)
- 08-2014 Section 08 Judicial Proceedings (PDF)
- 08-2014 Section 09 Confidentiality (PDF)
- 08-2014 Section 10 Substance Exposed Infants (PDF)
- 08-2014 Section 11 Child Deaths (PDF)
- Transmittal #265 (PDF)
03-2014
- Section 01 Introduction to CPS (PDF)
- Section 02 Definitions of Abuse and Neglect (PDF)
- Section 03 Complaints and Reports (PDF)
- Section 04 Family Assessments and Investigations (PDF)
- Section 05 Out Of Family Investigation (PDF)
- Section 06 Services (PDF)
- Section 07 Appeals (PDF)
- Section 08 Judicial Hearings (PDF)
- Section 09 Confidentiality (PDF)
- Section 10 Substance Exposed Infant (PDF)
- Section 11 Child Deaths (PDF)
- Transmittal #264 (PDF)
07-2013
- Section 01 Introduction to CPS (PDF)
- Section 02 Definitions of Abuse and Neglect (PDF)
- Section 03 Complaints and Reports (PDF)
- Section 04 Family Assessment and Investigation (PDF)
- Section 05 Out of Family Investigation (PDF)
- Section 06 Services (PDF)
- Section 07 Appeals (PDF)
- Section 08 Judicial Proceedings (PDF)
- Section 09 Confidentiality (PDF)
- Section 10 Substance Exposed Infant (PDF)
- Section 11 Child Deaths (PDF)
- Transmittal #261 (PDF)
02-2013
- Section 01 Introduction to CPS (PDF)
- Section 02 Definitions of Abuse and Neglect (PDF)
- Section 03 Complaints and Reports (PDF)
- Section 04 Family Assessment and Investigation (PDF)
- Section 05 Out of Family Investigations (PDF)
- Section 06 Services (PDF)
- Section 07 Appeals (PDF)
- Section 08 Judicial Proceedings (PDF)
- Section 09 Confidentiality (PDF)
- Section 10 Substance Exposed Infants (PDF)
- Section 11 Child Deaths (PDF)
- Transmittal 257 (PDF)
07-2012
- Section 01 Introduction to CPS (PDF)
- Section 02 Definitions of Abuse and Neglect (PDF)
- Section 03 Complaints and Reports (PDF)
- Section 04 Family Assessment and Investigation (PDF)
- Section 05 Out of Family Investigations (PDF)
- Section 06 Services (PDF)
- Section 07 Appeals (PDF)
- Section 08 Judicial Proceedings (PDF)
- Section 09 Confidentiality (PDF)
- Section 10 Substance Exposed Infants (PDF)
- Section 11 Child Deaths (PDF)
- Transmittal 250 (PDF)
07-2011
- Section 01: Introduction (PDF)
- Section 02: Definition of Abuse and Neglect (PDF)
- Section 03: Complaints and Reports (PDF)
- Section 04: Family Assessment and Investigation (PDF)
- Section 05: Out of Family Investigation (PDF)
- Section 06: Services (PDF)
- Section 07: Appeals (PDF)
- Section 08: Judicial Proceedings (PDF)
- Section 09: Confidentiality (PDF)
- Section 10: Substance Exposed Infants (PDF)
- Section 11: Child Deaths (PDF)