The Division of Family Services is responsible for comprehensive social service planning in the State with the accompanying development of programs, policies, and procedures. The Division provides program direction and technical assistance in the supervision and monitoring of the local service programs. The mission of Family Services is to help individuals and families develop and use their own resources, gain access to and use existing resources, and/or develop new community resources so that people can move to their optimum well-being. The legal base for these services is Code of Virginia, Sections 63.2-217, 63.2-410, et seq., 63.2-900 et seq., and 63.2-1500.
Child Protective Services
Child Protective Services (CPS) identifies, assesses, and provides services to children who have been abused or neglected and to their families. It is designed to preserve families whenever possible, yet protect children and prevent further maltreatment.
The CPS program is non-punitive in its approach and attempts to enable families to provide adequate care for their children. CPS utilizes a Differential Response System, allowing response much of the time using a Family Assessment process. This process is service oriented and strength based. For more information regarding Child Protective Services, please visit Virginia Department of Social Services. You may also call the Winchester Department of Social Services at (540) 662-3807 or visit WDSS at 24 Baker Street, Winchester, VA.
To Report Abuse and/or Neglect | Para Reportar Abuso y/o Negligencia
Anyone may report suspected child maltreatment to the Winchester Department of Social Services by calling (540) 662-3807 from the hours of 8:30 am-4:30 pm (Mon-Fri). After-hours reports can be made by calling (540) 662-4131. If a child is in immediate danger, dial 911. In addition, a report may be made by calling the statewide Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline of (800) 552-7096 from outside the state or (804) 786-8536 from inside Virginia.
Cualquiera puede denunciar la sospecha de maltrato infantil al Departamento de Servicios Sociales de Winchester llamando al (540) 662-3807 de 8:30 a. m. a 4:30 p. m. (de lunes a viernes). Los informes fuera del horario de atención se pueden realizar llamando al (540) 662-4131. Si un niño está en peligro inmediato, marque el 911. Además, se puede hacer un informe llamando a la línea directa estatal de abuso y negligencia infantil al (800) 552-7096 desde fuera del estado o al (804) 786-8536 desde dentro de Virginia.
Mandated reporters only:
VaCPS is an online portal that allows Virginia's mandated reporters the ability to expedite the submission of reports of suspected child abuse and neglect directly to the Virginia Child Abuse Hotline. This tool is ONLY for reports of suspected child abuse or neglect that are not an emergency.
Foster Care
Foster Care provides services, substitute care, and supervision for a child on a 24-hour basis until the child can return to his or her family or be placed in an adoptive home or another permanent placement. Foster Care provides assistance to children and families in an effort to prevent removal of a child from his or her home. When parents are unsuccessful in changing conditions in the home, it may be necessary to place the child in foster care. In that case, Foster Care provides services to enable the child to return home. If that is not possible, the program tries to find another permanent home. Foster Care is intended to be a temporary response to a difficult family situation, not a long-term solution for the family.
For more information on Foster Care and Foster Care Prevention please contact the Winchester Department of Social Services at (540) 662-3807 or visit us at 24 Baker Street, Winchester, VA.
If you are interested in becoming a foster parent, please visit the Foster Families of Clarke-Frederick-Winchester (CFW) website.
Adoption
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.
If a foster child cannot be returned to his or her parents or placed with relatives, the planning goal becomes adoption. Adoption is a social and legal process that establishes the relationship of parent and child between people who do not have this relationship by birth. It provides the same rights and obligations that exist between children and their biological parents.
For more information regarding Adoption Services, please visit Virginia Department of Social Services. You may also call the Winchester Department of Social Services at (540) 662-3807 or visit us at 24 Baker Street, Winchester, VA.
Adult Services / Adult Protective Services
Adult Services is a program that enables adults to remain in the least restrictive setting and function independently. This program provides long-term care, prevention services, nursing and adult home screening and placement services, guardianship oversight and adult protective services.
One key program in Adult Services is Adult Protective Services (APS), which investigates reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of adults over 60 years of age and incapacitated adults over 18 years of age. The goal of APS is to protect a vulnerable adult's life, health, and property without a loss of independence. When this is not possible, APS attempts to provide assistance with the least disruption of life style and with full due process, protection, and restoration of the person's liberty in the shortest possible period of time. Partnerships are key to prevention and to maximize risk reduction and self-determination.
For more information regarding Adult Services or Adult Protective Services, please visit Virginia Department of Social Services. You may also call the Winchester Department of Social Services at (540) 662-3807 or visit us at 24 Baker Street, Winchester, VA.
To Report Adult Abuse, Neglect and/or Financial Exploitation | Para Reportar el Abuso, Negligencia y/o la Explotación Financiera de Adultos
Anyone may report suspected financial exploitation or other kinds of abuse to the elderly or adults with a disability, by calling the Winchester Department of Social Services at (540) 662-3807 from the hours of 8:30 am-4:30 pm (Mon-Fri). After-hours reports can be made by calling (540) 662-4131. If an adult is in immediate danger, dial 911. In addition, a report may be made by calling the statewide Adult Protective Services Hotline of (888) 832-3858.
Cualquier persona puede reportar sospechas de explotación financiera u otros tipos de abuso a las personas de mayor edad o adultos con discapacidades llamando al Departamento de Servicios Sociales de Winchester al número (540) 662-3807 durante el horario de 8:30 am – 4:30 pm de lunes a viernes. Reportes fuera de este horario se pueden hacer llamando al número (540) 662-4131. Si un adulto se encuentra en peligro inmediato, marque al 911. Además, un reporte se puede hacer llamando a la línea directa del estado de Virginia para Servicios de Protección de Adultos al número (888) 832-3858.