Department of Social Services
The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) is a state supervised and locally administered social services system. Providing oversight and guidance to 120 local offices across the state, VDSS delivers a wide variety of services and benefits to over 1.7 million Virginians each year.
VDSS' programs are designed to help Virginia's most vulnerable citizens find permanent solutions to life's many challenges. The Department is responsible for administering a variety of programs, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, Adoption, Child Care Assistance, Refugee Resettlement Services, and Child and Adult Protective Services.
Our goal is to promote the well-being of our citizens through the delivery of essential services and benefits to ensure families are strengthened, and individuals achieve their highest level of self-sufficiency.
Every political jurisdiction in Virginia is required by state law to provide social services to their residents. Each department has a corresponding local board (§63.2-300 of the Code of Virginia).
Board members are expected to:
- Attend board and committee meetings
- Be or become knowledgeable about the programs, goals, and objectives of the department
- Actively engage state and local social services issues
- Monitor and review department performance.
- The public is welcomed to attend the meeting unless a closed session is convened as permitted by law.
- Meetings occur at Northumberland Department of Social Services at 3 PM. The 2025 meeting schedule is under supporting documents below.
CHILDREN'S SERVICES ACT (CSA)
Vision: A collaborative, child-centered, family-focused, community-based system of care that effectively meets the needs of youth and their families in the Commonwealth.
The Children's Service Act (CSA) is a state law enacted in 1993 that establishes a single pool of funding to coordinate a system of services for troubled and at-risk youth and their families. State funds, combined with local community funds, are managed by local interagency teams who plan and oversee services to meet identified needs of youth and their families. the local CSA Program is made up of the Community Policy and Management Team (CPMT) and the Family Assessment and Planning Team (FAPT) who partner with the family to help address concerns and access services.
ELIGIBILITY
Services under the CSA may be available to a child who meets at least one of the following descriptions:
- Youth who require placement in a private school for special education, as determined by their Individual Education Plan (IEP)
- Youth who are in foster care or eligible for foster care services
- Youth who are eligible for services through a Child in Need of Services (CHINS)
- Youth who have significant emotional or behavioral problems and may require services not available from a single agency, require services from multiple agencies, or may be at risk of residential placement
Family Guide to CSA
The Children’s Services Act is a law, enacted in 1993, that provides funding and multi-disciplinary planning to help meet the needs of children and families in Virginia. The Family Guide to CSA provides parents and families information on eligibility for CSA and other aspects of the CSA process. To read the guide please click here
Contact Us: Northumberland County CSA Program
Jackie Clayton, CPMT Chairperson
Mary Jenkins, CSA Coordinator
Email: northumberlanddss@dss.virginia.gov
Phone: 804-580-3477
