There are 2 types of Licensed Residential Facilities for Children:
- Children's Residential Facilities (CRF): These provide 24-hour care, guidance and protection to children placed through local family assessment and planning teams under the Comprehensive Services Act or private placement by parents or legal guardians.
- Child Caring Institutions (CCI): These are licensed under minimum standards for licensed child caring institutions. By law, they are not permitted to accept public funds. Payment for care is provided by parents or legal guardians.
Status of Initial/Renewal Applications, Denials & Provisional Licenses
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- 2024-11-06 (PDF)
- 2024-10-03 (PDF)
- 2024-09-04 (PDF)
- 2024-08-05 (PDF)
- 2024-07-01 (PDF)
- 2024-06-01 (PDF)
- 2024-05-02 (PDF)
- 2024-04-02 (PDF)
- 2024-03-07 (PDF)
- 2024-02-02 (PDF)
- 2024-01-02 (PDF)
- 2023-12-01 (PDF)
Regulations & Code References
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Regulations
- Standards for Licensed Children's Residential Facilities (PDF)
- Replacement Pages for Standards for Licensed Children's Residential Facilities (PDF)
- General Procedures and Information for Licensure - effective 08/14/2024 (PDF)
Applicable Code of Virginia References
New Applicants
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- Annual Operating Budget (DOC)
- Annual Operating Budget (PDF)
- CRF Initial Application (PDF)
- CRF Program Description Instructions & Checklist (PDF)
- Children's Residential Facilities Contact with Local Zoning Administrator (PDF)
- Licensing Offices (PDF)
- New Applicant Memo (PDF)
- Report of Environmental Sanitation Inspection (PDF)
- Siting of Children's Residential Facilities (PDF)
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Application Process
The Division of Licensing Programs (DOLP) at the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) has a user-friendly and secure on-line application system called the Virginia Enterprise Licensing Application.
Before starting the application process, please read through all instructions.
There are four easy steps for applying on-line through VELA:
- Save all your required documents for upload into VELA. You may wish to review the list of required application forms that are listed under the bullet "Application Forms."
- Review the self-help resources available by accessing the Virginia Enterprise Licensing Application(VELA) Quick Reference Guides and the Virginia Enterprise Licensing Application (VELA) Instructional Videos sub-headings below.
- When you are ready, access the Virginia Enterprise Licensing Application. We recommend that you bookmark the VELA link since you can return to VELA to make changes until the application is submitted. After submission, data cannot be revised.
- Register an account to enter the VELA provider portal where you can complete an application. Self-help resources are available on VELA under the Quick Reference Guides tab.
CONTACT: If you have technical problems accessing VELA or completing the application, please e-mail vela@dss.virginia.gov.
Virginia RelayVirginia Relay enables people who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind, or have difficulty speaking to communicate by TTY (text telephone) or another assistive telephone device with anyone who uses a standard phone.
TTY: 800-828-1120
Voice: 800-828-1140
Captioned Telephone Service: 877-243-2823
Speech-to-Speech: 866-221-6784
Visually Assisted Speech-to-Speech: 800-855-8220
Spanish: 800-855-8200
If you still need to submit a paper application via mail, you may do so by using the Application Forms below.
Pre-application orientation -- We also highly recommend that applicants attend one of our pre-application orientation sessions. Topics covered include the application process, licensing regulations and approvals required by other state agencies. To register for this pre-application orientation, please reach out to your appropriate Licensing field office.
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Application Forms
- Annual Operating Budget (DOC)
- Annual Operating Budget (PDF)
- CRF Initial Application (PDF)
- CRF Program Description Instructions & Checklist (PDF)
- Children's Residential Facilities Contact with Local Zoning Administrator (PDF)
- Licensing Offices (PDF)
- New Applicant Memo (PDF)
- Report of Environmental Sanitation Inspection (PDF)
- Siting of Children's Residential Facilities (PDF)
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Virginia Enterprise Licensing Application (VELA) Quick Reference Guides
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Virginia Enterprise Licensing Application (VELA) Instructional Videos
Current CRF Providers
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Notices
- 2024/09/30: Boil Water Notice (PDF)
- 2024/09/26: 2024 Hurricane Preparedness Memo (PDF)
- 2024/08/15: Adult Day Center Regulation Name Change (PDF)
- 2024/08/05: 32 Hour Medication Management Training (PDF)
- 2024/07/01: Public Comment Notice for General Procedures and Information for Licensure (PDF)
- 2024/06/07: Legislation that passed in the 2024 General Assembly (PDF)
- 2023/12/08: COVID and Respiratory Illness Reminders Memo (PDF)
- 2023/11/03: Barrier Crimes List Update - CRF/CCI (PDF)
- 2023/09/15: CRF Universal Referral Form for Residential Services (PDF)
- 2023/05/11: Legislation that passed in 2023 General Assembly (PDF)
- 2023/03/30: Enhancements to the CRS Provider Portal (PDF)
- 2023/02/14: COVID-19 and Communicable Disease Outbreak Reporting Memo (PDF)
- 2022/11/18: Virginia Enterprise Licensing Application (VELA) Provider Portal - Central Registry Search (CRS) (PDF)
- 2022/06/23: Legislation that Passed in the 2022 General Assembly (PDF)
- 2021/11/17: Update - Return to Full Onsite Inspections (PDF)
- 2021/07/02: FEMA Releases Shelter-in-Place Guidance (PDF)
- 2021/06/28: Expiration of Regulatory Leniency on June 30, 2021 (PDF)
- 2020/06/26: 2020 Legislative Implementation (PDF)
- 2020/04/13: Family First Extended Implementation Date (PDF)
- 2019/10/22: Application Process for Qualified Residential Treatment Programs (PDF)
- 2019/09/30: Family First Website Notification (PDF)
- 2018/08/22: Central Registry Update and Tip Sheet (PDF)
- 2018/04/26: Central Registry System Update (PDF)
- 2018/04/19: Fingerprint Memo (PDF)
- 2018/01/11: Fieldprint Fingerprint Communication (PDF)
Documents & Procedures
- Risk Assessment Matrix (PDF)
Forms
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License Renewal
- VDSS CRF Renewal App for Conditional License (PDF)
- CRF Renewal Application (PDF)
- Staff Information (PDF)
All Other
- CRF Employee Matrix (XLS)
- Children's Residential Facilities Agreement: Code of Ethics & Mutual Responsibilities (PDF)
- Children's Residential Facilities Contact with Local Zoning Administrator (PDF)
- Discharge Information Provided to Resident's Legal Guardian (PDF)
- Discharge Summary (PDF)
- Documentation of Health Care Appointments (PDF)
- Face Sheet (PDF)
- Facility Self Report (PDF)
- Individual Service Plan (ISP) (DOC)
- Individual Service Plan (ISP) (PDF)
- Initial Objectives & Strategies (PDF)
- License Modification Request for Facility Change of Location (PDF)
- Monthly Evacuation Drill (PDF)
- Personnel Record Review Compliance Format for Children's Residential Facilities (PDF)
- Policy Checklist (PDF)
- Quarterly Progress Report (PDF)
- Reference Sheet for Each Owner/Operator Board Officers (PDF)
- Report of Environmental Sanitation Inspection (PDF)
- Request for Search of the Child Protective Services (CPS) Central Registry (PDF)
- Resident Records Review (XLS)
- Residential Environment Compliance (PDF)
Background Investigations
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Code of Virginia Requirements
§63.2-1726 - Every children's residential facility that is regulated or operated by the Department of Social Services; the Department of Education; the Department of Military Affairs; or the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services shall require a criminal history record check and a child protective services central registry search on the following:
Any individual who:
- Accepts a position of employment
- Volunteers for such a facility
- Provides contractual services directly to a juvenile for such a facility
The results of the criminal history background check and results of a search of the child protective services central registry must be received prior to permitting an applicant to work in the children's residential facility.
Children's residential facilities cannot hire anyone who has:
- a conviction or pending charges for an offense under clauses (i), (ii), (iii), or (v) of barrier crime definition in Code §19.2-392.02
- a conviction or pending charges for an offense under clause (iv) within five years prior to application for employment/volunteer/contractual services or is still on probation/parole or has failed to pay court fees for offenses under clause (iv)
- founded case of child abuse or neglect
Forms
- Fingerprint Card Template (PDF)
- Request for Search of the Child Protective Services (CPS) Central Registry (PDF)
- Sworn Statement or Affirmation for Children's Residential Facilities (PDF)
Documents & Procedures
- Barrier Crimes (PDF)
- CRF & CPA Fingerprint FAQ (PDF)
- Convictions Requiring Registration in the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry
- Legal Terms/Abbreviations (PDF)
- Procedures for Conducting Background Investigations (PDF)
- State Police Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry
Obtaining Criminal Background Results
Related Links
