childcare to partners trying to achieve independence from public assistance, and promoting parental choice in the selection of child care. It also aims to empower working parents to make their own decisions on the child care that best suits their family’ s needs and provides consumer education to help parents make informed choices about child care. To apply for child care assistance, go on-line at https:// commonhelp. virginia. gov or call the Madison office.
Services:
Adult Services Adult Services coordinates and provides a range of services to maintain safe living conditions for incapacitated or elderly adults. These include assistance with emergencies, home-based companion services, in-home assistance with some activities of daily living, adult foster care and respite care, nursing home preadmission screening for impaired adults, Medicaid community-based care screenings and arrangement services, help with assisted Living placement and nursing home placement, and case management for adults who require coordination of services.
Adult Protective Services( APS) Anyone living in Madison County who is 60 years or older or who is incapacitated and 18 years of age or older may receive protective services if services are needed, which is determined by a DSS social worker investigating reports or suspicions of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Adult Protective Services are provided regardless of the person’ s income or financial resources. APS completes investigations in almost every setting including the home, assisted living facilities, nursing facilities and hospitals. APS does not investigate allegations of mistreatment in jails or prisons. To report suspected abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult( aged or with disabilities) or to get more information about adult abuse and neglect, call 1 888 832 3858 any time or the Madison office 540-948- 5521 during office hours.
Foster Care Services DSS also provides services to foster children and their foster parents. Foster parents are professional parents who enjoy parenting and are willing to share their home, time, energy and love with children who have special problems. The children range in age from newborn to 18 years. Some have been victimized by abuse or neglect. Some may be physically or mentally challenged; some may have emotional or behavioral problems. Sometimes, as a result of abuse, neglect, abandonment or a death in the family, courts decide that children must be temporarily separated from their families. To find out more about becoming a foster parent, visit http:// www. dss. virginia. gov / family / fc /. A child’ s stay in foster care may be as short as overnight or longer depending on the permanency plan for the child. The goal is to reunite the children with their own families. When this is not possible, parental rights may be terminated and adoption becomes the goal for child. Often foster parents are the first choice for the child’ s adoptive home. In foster care, the department has legal custody of the child and assumes the ultimate responsibility for the child. A family will receive a maintenance payment on behalf of the child to help with expenses while a child is in their home. Children have medical and dental coverage while in foster care.
Family Services and Foster Care Prevention Services Family Services are designed to assist children and families resolve crises, connect with necessary and appropriate services, and remain safely together in their own homes whenever possible. The goal is to prevent or eliminate the need for out-of-home placement of children, promote family strength and stability, enhance parental functioning and protect children. Call MCDSS and ask for the Family Services social worker on intake if you, your family or a friend are experiencing difficulties. 540-948-5521 during office hours.
Children’ s Services( CSA) Services under the CSA may be available to a child who meets at least one of the following descriptions: youth who require private placement for special education, 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 determination or youth who have significant emotional or behavioral problems and may require services not available from any single agency, require services of multiple agencies, or may be at risk of residential placement. While most of the children who qualify for CSA services are already under the purview of one of the member agencies( Juvenile Court Services, Social Services, Community Services or the Public Schools) you may call the Children’ s Services Coordinator at 540-948-5521 to find out if you and your child are eligible for services. Visit http:// www. csa. virginia. gov / html / for _ parents / for _ parents. cfm for more information.
One-Stop Career Resource Center The resource center is open from 8:15am – 4:45pm and is available to all Madison county residents to assist in finding employment. The resource center is not an employment agency but encourages independent job search with multiple resources at your disposal. The following one-stop services are available free of charge: job postings direct from employers, various web pages, assistance with establishing new email accounts and job search Web pages, computer and internet access and referral for free computer classes.
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