Department of Social Services (765)

Authority: Title 2.2, Chapter 54; Title 63.2, Code of Virginia; Title VI, Subtitle B, P.L. 97-35, as amended; P.L. 103-252, as amended; P.L. 104-193, as amended, Federal Code.

A.1. All increased state or federal funds distributed to Community Action Agencies shall be distributed as follows:  The funds shall be distributed to all local Community Action Agencies according to the Department of Social Services funding formula (75 percent based on low-income population, 20 percent based on number of jurisdictions served, and five percent based on square mileage served), adjusted to ensure that no agency receives less than 1.5 percent of any increase.

2. Out of this appropriation, $185,725 the first year and $185,725 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to the Virginia Community Action Partnership to support the Virginia Earned Income Tax Coalition (EITC) and provide grants to local organizations to provide outreach, education and tax preparation services to citizens who may be eligible for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit.  The Virginia Community Action Partnership shall report on its efforts to expand the number of Virginians who are able to claim the federal EITC, including the number of individuals identified who could benefit from the credit, the number of individuals counseled on the availability of the federal EITC, and the number of individuals assisted with tax preparation to claim the federal EITC.  This report shall be provided to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees and the Chairman of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission by December 1 each year.

B. The department shall continue to fund from this Item all organizations recognized by the Commonwealth as community action agencies as defined in §2.2-540 et seq.

C. Out of this appropriation, $570,000 the first year and $570,000 the second year from the general fund and $2,475,501 the first year and $2,475,501 the second year from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant shall be provided to Healthy Families Virginia. These funds shall be used at the discretion of local sites for obtaining matching Title IV-E nongeneral funds when available. The Department of Social Services shall continue to allocate funds from this item to the statewide office of Prevent Child Abuse Virginia for providing the coordination, technical support, quality assurance, training and evaluation of the Healthy Families Virginia program.

D.1. Out of the appropriation, $1,500,000 the first year and $1,500,000 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation.  These funds shall be matched with local public and private resources with a goal of leveraging a dollar for each state dollar provided.  Funds shall be awarded to proposals that seed and foster community programs that enhance the health, safety and well-being of Virginia's youth.  The Foundation shall account for the expenditure of these funds by providing the Governor, Secretary of Health and Human Resources, and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees with a certified audit and full report on Foundation initiatives and results not later than October 1 of each year for the preceding fiscal year ending June 30.

2. On or before October 1 of each year, the foundation shall submit to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees a report on the actual amount, by fiscal year, of private and local government funds received by the foundation.

E. Out of this appropriation, $100,000 the first year and $100,000 the second year from nongeneral funds shall be provided for Volunteer Emergency Families for Children to expand its shelter care network for abused, neglected, runaway, homeless, and at-risk children throughout Virginia.

F. Out of this appropriation, $100,000 the first year and $100,000 the second year from nongeneral funds shall be provided for the Child Abuse Prevention Play administered by Theatre IV of Richmond.

G. Out of this appropriation, $70,000 the first year and $70,000 the second year from the general fund shall be provided for dementia-specific training of long-term care workers dealing with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders through the Virginia Alzheimer's Association Chapters.

H. Out of this appropriation, $200,000 the first year and $200,000 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to Northern Virginia Family Services to provide comprehensive safety net services for children and families.

I. Out of this appropriation, $88,000 the first year and $88,000 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to the Oxbow Center in Wise County to provide child day care services.