May is National Water Safety Month!
As the temperature warms and children are released for summer break, many families will be planning adventures to the pool, lake or beach. It is important that parents are aware of the measures they should take to keep their children safe in and around water. The Virginia Department of Social Services is here to help with our Water Safety Guide.
Visit the resources below, including our Parent Resource Guide to review our water safety recommendations and more practical tips to keep your child safe!
The goal of Child Abuse Prevention Services is to strengthen families by ensuring the safety, permanency, and well-being of its children. Services are determined by target population, degree of trauma experienced, and level of intervention by local departments of social services. These services are designed to:
- Empower family members and increase their opportunity to self-sufficient through strength-based family engagement approaches
- Prevent the occurrence (or reoccurrence) of child abuse/neglect from any caretaker
- Prevent out-of-home care (including the prevention of foster care)
Benefits of providing prevention services to families in a strength-based, trauma-informed system that promotes protective factors include the following:
- Families who identify their problems and seek help through prevention are more likely to benefit quickly from services and their children are less likely to be at risk of abuse and neglect and out-of-home care.
- Early involvement with families reduces the likelihood of abuse and neglect occurring, maintains permanency for the child in their family, and preserves sibling groups.
- Training and educating parents' understanding of child development, behavior management, stress management, attachment, and nurturing reduces family conflict and improves family relationships.
Report Child Abuse or Neglect
Anyone can report suspected child abuse or neglect to a local department of social services or to the CPS Hotline.
Virginia: 1-800-552-7096
Outside Virginia: 1-804-786-8536
Local Departments of Social Services
