The Department provides the following services:
- Adoption Services - Assists with the placement of children in "forever" homes
- Adult Services - Helps elderly or disabled citizens remain independent
- Auxiliary Grant - Supplemental income for citizens residing in assisted living facilities
- Child Care - Day care supplements to families
- Child Protective Services (CPS) - Protection for children, preservation of families, whenever possible, and prevention of further maltreatment. Child Protective Services is non-punitive in its approach and is directed toward enabling families to provide adequate care for their children
- Employment Services/VIEW - Helps citizens broaden and develop job skills
- Energy Assistance - Heating, cooling and crisis assistance
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP- Formerly the Food Stamp Program)
- Foster Care- Provides homes and compassionate foster parents for children who are removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect, or other family circumstances that prevents children from remaining in their homes.
- Foster Care Recruitment and Training- Become a foster care provider
- Fraud - Investigations for false benefits requests
- Medicaid - Medical Assistance
- Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) - Short term financial assistance to families with children
Did you know that you can apply for benefits online?
Visit www.commonhelp.virginia.gov or call 1-800-522-5582.
The Enterprise Customer Service Center is now available to receive applications over the phone for all benefit programs.
Adult Service Programs
The Adult Service Programs provides services to Northampton's adult population, allowing them to remain independent and safe in the least restrictive setting.
For information on Adult Services Programs, contact
757-678-5153, ext. 337
Child Care Programs
The agency's child care programs provides funding for quality child care services to Northampton's working families and parents enrolled in an educational program. Last fiscal year, Northampton served 64 families, 192 children, making child care payments totaling over $300,000.
In keeping with the state agency's child care policy, Northampton seeks to
assist families financially to find affordable, quality childcare, promote parental choice in childcare selection and empower parents to make decisions in their family's best interest,
increase the quantity and quality of certified child care providers.
For information on childcare programs and provider activities, contact:
757-678-5153, ext. 330
Child Protective Services
Since 1975, the VA Department of Social Services has supervised the CPS Program. Its goal has been to identify, assess and provide services to children and families, maintaining their safety and preserving the family unit.
Foster Care Prevention/Family Preservation Programs
Prevention Services
In-home Services
Child Protective Services
Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline
A 24-hour child abuse and neglect hotline is maintained by the State agency, providing the public with 24 hour a day, seven days a week access. To make a CPS referral during regular business hours please call Northampton County Department of Social Services; (757) 678-5153. To make a referral after hours please call the Sheriff's Department (757)678-0458 or the State Hotline number at (800) 552-7096.
For additional information on Child Welfare Programs, contact: 757-678-5153, ext. 333.
Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC)
The ICPC provides for the protection of children being placed across state lines. It is intended to ensure that the proposed placement is appropriate and in the best interest of the child.
For more information on ICPC, please call:
757-678-5153, ext 337
Foster Care Programs
Foster Care is a state mandated service to provide a range of case management, treatment and community services to a child, abused or neglected whose custody has been given to the local agency. It is intended to be a temporary solution to a child's family problems.
If you're interested in becoming a foster parent or would like to know more about foster care, please call 757-678-5153, ext 337.
VIEW
TANF recipients are required to participate in the VIEW (Virginia's Initiative for Employment not Welfare) Program. VIEW emphases the "work first" concept in conjunction with training and education. The program goals are to offer participants an opportunity to:
- achieve economic independence by removing work barriers
- obtain work skills necessary for self-sufficiency
- contribute materially to their own self-sufficiency
- obtain work experience
For more information on the VIEW Program and VIEW activities, contact:
757-678-5153, ext. 330