Adult, Children, & Family Services

Local APS hotline: 757-926-6329; M-F  8:00 am-4:00 pm

24-Hour State hotline is 1-888-832-3858

Adult Protective Services

Adult Protective Services investigates reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of adults 60 years of age or older, and incapacitated adults age 18 or older. If protective services are needed and accepted by the individual, a variety of health, housing, social, and legal services are available to stop the mistreatment or prevent further mistreatment.

To report suspected adult abuse, neglect, or exploitation, call the Adult Protective Services hotline at 757-926-6329 Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm.

Adult Services

Adult Services are provided to disabled persons who are 18 years of age and older and to persons 60 years or older. Adult Services include the provision of case management, home-based companion services, screening for Medicaid, community-based care and nursing home placement, screening for admission to assisted living facilities, and other activities to aid the adult and their family.

Home-Based Companion Services

Home-based companion services can be provided to perform light housekeeping, errands, and some personal care duties for clients who are aged, blind, or disabled. These services are available to aid clients in maintaining their own homes rather than encourage institutional placements. Payments are made to agency-approved providers based on the hours worked. Hours available per week for companion services are determined on an individual basis. Eligibility is restricted to persons who meet income guidelines established by the state. 

Screening for In-Home Care & Nursing Home Placement

Medicaid pre-admission screening for community-based in home services and nursing home placements are completed by a Family Services Specialist and a public health nurse. Approval for these services is determined by the Nursing Home Pre-Admission Screening Team, which meets twice monthly.

Screening for Assisted Living Facilities

Screenings must be completed on all persons who enter an assisted living facility and who need financial assistance through the auxiliary grant program for payment. Screenings are completed to determine the individual's initial level of care and must be updated based on changes in the level of care. All auxiliary grant recipients must be reassessed/screened once per year.

Local CPS hotline: 757-926-6600; M-F 8:00 am-4:00 pm 

24-Hour State hotline: 1-800-552-7096 

Child Protective Services receives and investigates reports of suspected physical abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse of children, as well as coordinates services and resources to prevent the recurrence of child abuse and/or neglect. 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 towards enabling families to provide adequate care and nurturing for their children. If this is not possible, then alternative plans for protection may be necessary.

Mandated Reporters

Certain individuals are mandated to report if they learn of abuse or neglect in their professional capacity. Mandated reporters include:

• Doctors
• Hospital residents or interns
• Nurses
• Family Services Specialists
• Probation officers
• Teachers in public and private schools
• Childcare providers
• Mental health professionals
• Law enforcement officers
• Clergy
• Coaches
• Institutional staff
• Any mediator eligible to receive court referrals
• Any person associated with or employed by any private organization responsible for the care, custody or control of children

Virginia Law, Chapter 12.1, Section 63.1-248 requires social services departments to investigate all suspected reports of abuse and neglect.

Reporting Abuse

Anyone who suspects that children are being abused or neglected may call anonymously the local hotline at 757-926-6600 or the 24-hour statewide toll-free hotline at 1-800-552-7096. 

In order for the complaint to be valid, the following criteria must be met:

• The child / children must be under the age of 18 at the time of the complaint.
• The alleged abuser must be the child's parent or other person responsible for his/her care.
• The local department receiving the report must be an agency of jurisdiction.
• The circumstances described must allege suspected abuse or neglect as defined by policy. The definitions of abuse and neglect include:
  • Bizarre discipline
  • Educational neglect
  • Failure to thrive
  • Medical neglect
  • Mental abuse/neglect
  • Physical abuse
  • Physical neglect
  • Sexual abuse

Investigation and Family Assessment

 Valid reports for investigation are completed within 45-60 days ending with a “finding.”  A complaint is considered "founded" when the preponderance of evidence establishes that abuse and/or neglect has occurred. If this evidence cannot be established, the complaint is classified as "unfounded." A complaint that is founded may be appealed. Information regarding this appeal process may be found on the Virginia Department of Social Services website.

Reports can also be validated as a Family Assessment, which collects necessary information to determine safety, risk of future harm and protective and rehabilitative services needs of children and families that will deter abuse and/or neglect.  Family Assessments are completed within 60 days.  

Additional information regarding Child Protective Services may be found on the Virginia Department of Social Services website.

This intake service provides an initial consultation and connection to department services in emergency situations to meet citizen’s needs such as housing, food, shelter and the purchase of medications to avoid further deterioration of the situation.

• Initial screening and assessment is used to determine:
• Eligibility for services
• Factors contributing to the emergency
• Immediate and long term activities and services needed to alleviate the problems

Clients are referred to other agencies and community resources as necessary and case management services may be provided for ongoing assistance. Verification of income, resources, financial debts, and other personal information is required. 

If you are in need of emergency services call 757-926-6161 and request to speak with an Intake Family Services Specialist.

Newport News residents may apply for child care services to provide aid when engaging in job search, employment, education/training and other approvable activities. Financial eligibility is based on gross monthly income and family size. Families have full parental choice of child care subsidy providers. 

To search for a child care provider and view additional child care resources, visit childcare.virginia.gov.  

 How to Apply for Child Care Services

Residents may check their eligibility and apply for child care services by submitting an application online at commonhelp.virginia.gov. Applications may also be submitted in person at the Newport News Human Services office, by mail or by fax at 757-926-6444. If you would like an application mailed to your address, call the Child Care Information Line at 757-926-6050.

Interested in Becoming a Child Care Provider

Newport News Department of Human Services is looking for Child Care Providers who are able to provide a nurturing, safe and fun learning environment for children. For information on how to become a Child Care Provider, please visit childcare.virginia.gov, call 757-926-6349 or submit an email to providecc@nnva.gov. 

If you are currently a licensed or voluntarily registered provider and would like to be placed on the Newport News Human Services Child Care Listing, please call the Child Care Provider Information Line at 757-926-6349 or send an email to providecc@nnva.gov. 

Services are provided for families to prevent family violence, family breakdown, child neglect and/or abuse, and other crises as well as strengthen the ability of families to function independently. Services may be provided within any of the following areas. 

Children in Need of Services/Supervision

The goal of the CHINS program is to provide intensive preventive services to families in order to reduce the number of children entering foster care.

Case Management Services provided include the following:

• Assess the needs, strengths and barriers of the identified child and family members, to make the necessary recommendations, in an effort to prevent out-of-home placement. 
• Make necessary referrals to public and private service providers to address the needs of the child and family such as counseling, mental health evaluations, medication management,  substance abuse assessments/treatment, mentoring, parent support, personal care support and parent education. 
• Initiate interdisciplinary team staffings with the Newport News Family Assessment and Planning Team. 
• Provide progress reports and recommendations to the court

Family Stabilization

Family Stabilization strives to support families to safely maintain children in their own homes, or with relative/fictive kin caregivers to prevent entry into foster care, by addressing identified safety and risk concerns and reducing the recurrence of child maltreatment.

Services

• Referrals for evidence-based, trauma-informed services and other indicated services
• Parent Education
• Case Management
• Court Ordered Services

Home Studies

Home study evaluation services are rendered in child custody matters for the courts or other social service agencies.. The evaluation is used to assess the child's physical environment and determine the type of parenting the child does, or would receive, in the home.

A request for a home study evaluation must come directly from the courts or other social service agencies. There may be a fee assessed for this service according to family size and income. Recommendations for placement and referrals for services are provided as deemed appropriate. 

Home studies are also conducted for other states through the Interstate Compact for Placement of Children (ICPC).

Foster Care Services

Children are placed in foster care due to abuse or neglect as determined by the juvenile court. Foster care is intended to be a temporary out of home placement while families get the services they need to ensure their children will be safe.

Foster Care services seek to reunify children if possible with parents, prior legal guardians, relatives, fictive kin, or other interested parties as identified in a time limit mandated under the Adoptions and Safe Families Act. Foster Care Staff are assigned to engage with children and their families to help them achieve the best possible outcomes within the federal mandate for timeliness.

Newport News Department of Human Services seeks to place all youth in care within their community of origin.  Foster Care placements are dependent on youth need and availability.  Community based placements to include placements with kin and fictive kin are encouraged. Youth can remain in foster care until the age of 18.  At 18, youth may opt into Fostering Futures, which continues foster care services to the age of 21. 

Foster Parenting

Foster parenting is accepting a child into your care who might have been abused or neglected or who might need a temporary home. The foster parent is a temporary caregiver for a child whose goal is to return home or to be placed with a relative. A foster parent works with a team of people (the Family Services Specialist, therapist, teachers, and the child's family, to name a few) to assist this child. Being a foster parent is both rewarding and challenging.

 How to Become a Foster Parent

Contact us by emailing fosterparenting@nnva.gov or calling 757-926-6283.

Eligibility Requirements

• 21 years of age or older
• Sufficient income to meet personal expenses
• Ability to provide a safe, healthy home with enough space for a child
• Willingness to be a part of a team with the agency, child's family, schools, and others
• Favorable Child Protective Services background check 
• Favorable criminal background check
• Availability to attend pre-service and on-going training 
• Reliable transportation and availability to take child to appointments

 Approval Process

Each applicant must:

• Attend Information Session
• Complete pre-service training
• Complete FBI and Child Protective Services checks
• Provide current TB test and physical exam
• Provide three references
• Favorable home study including interviews and safety home assessment

Agency adoption placements are made for children who have been permanently and legally separated from their birth parents. Adoption is a legal process, which gives new parent(s) the same rights and obligations as biological parents. When the child is in the custody of the Newport News Department of Human Services, and parental rights are terminated, the agency can place the child in an adoptive home.

Resources

Visit the Virginia Department of Social Services website for additional information such as frequently asked questions, steps to adoption, details on accessing adoption records, and much more. 

Additional information also available:

• Adult adoptions/accessing adoption records
• Parental placement adoptions
• Rights of adoptees over age 18
• Rights of adoptive parents
• Rights of birth parents
• Rights of birth siblings
• Rights of other birth family members
• Stepparent adoptions
• Support groups and national adoption information