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 contract with the Virginia Community Action Partnership to provide outreach, education and tax preparation services via the Virginia Earned Income Tax Coalition and other community non-profit organizations to citizens who may be eligible for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit.  The contract shall require the Virginia Community Action Partnership to 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 federal EITC, and the number of individuals assisted with tax preparation to claim the federal EITC. The annual report from the Virginia Community Action Partnership shall also detail actual expenditures for the program including the sub-contractors that were utilized. This report shall be provided to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees by December 1 each year.

3.  Out of this appropriation, $500,000 the first year and $500,000 the second year from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant shall be provided to contract with local Community Action Agencies to provide an array of services designed to meet the needs of low-income individuals and families, including the elderly and migrant workers.  Services may include, but are not limited to, child care, community and economic development, education, employment, health and nutrition, housing, and transportation.

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, $951,896 the first year and $951,896 the second year from the general fund and $2,833,605 the first year and $2,833,605 the second year from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant shall be provided to contract with programs that follow the evidence-based Healthy Families America home visiting model that promotes positive parenting, improves child health and development, and reduces child abuse and neglect.  The Department of Social Services shall use a portion of the funds from this item to contract with the statewide office of Prevent Child Abuse Virginia for providing the coordination, technical support, quality assurance, training and evaluation of the Virginia Healthy Families programs.

D. 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.

E.  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 (the play) administered by Virginia Repertory Theatre.  The contract shall include production and live performances of the play that teach child safety awareness to prevent child abuse.

F.  Out of this appropriation, $70,000 the first year and $70,000 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to contract with the Virginia Alzheimer’s Association Chapters to provide dementia-specific training to long-term care workers in licensed nursing facilities, assisted living facilities and adult day care centers who deal with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. 

G.  Out of this appropriation, $200,000 the first year and $200,000 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to contract with Northern Virginia Family Services (NVFS) to provide supportive services that address the basic needs of families in crisis, including the provision of food, financial assistance to prevent homelessness, and access to health services.  The contract shall require NVFS to provide an intake process that identifies the needs and appropriate services for those in crisis.  Outcomes will be measured utilizing surveys provided to those who receive services and NVFS will report quarterly on survey results.

H. Out of this appropriation, $931,000 the first year and $931,000 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to contract with child advocacy centers (CAC) to provide a comprehensive, multidisciplinary team response to allegations of child abuse in a dedicated, child-friendly setting.  The contracts shall require CACs to provide forensic interviews, victim support and advocacy services, medical evaluations, and mental health services to victims of child abuse and neglect with the expected outcome of reducing child abuse and neglect. The department shall develop a Request for Proposal (RFP) to (i) distribute 67 percent of the allocated funds for accredited child advocacy centers and 30 percent for associate/developing child advocacy centers, as recognized and in good standing with the National Children's Alliance, with input from Children's Advocacy Centers of Virginia (CACVA); (ii) allocate three percent to Children's Advocacy Centers of Virginia, the recognized chapter of National Children's Alliance for Virginia's child advocacy centers, for the purpose of assisting and supporting the development, continuation and sustainability of community-coordinated, child-focused services delivered by children's advocacy centers; and (iii) distribute any non-allocated funding equally to accredited and associate/developing child advocacy centers awarded funding in section (i) of this paragraph.

I.  Out of this appropriation, $200,000 the first year and $200,000 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to contract with Youth for Tomorrow (YFT) to provide comprehensive residential, education and counseling services to at-risk youth of the Commonwealth of Virginia who have been sexually exploited, including victims of sex trafficking.  The contract shall require YFT to provide individual assessments/individual service planning; individual and group counseling; room and board; coordination of medical and mental health services and referrals; independent living services for youth transitioning out of foster care; active supervision; education; and family and family reunification services.  Youth for Tomorrow shall submit monthly progress reports on activities conducted and progress achieved on outputs, outcomes and other functions/activities during the reporting period. On October 1 of each year, YFT shall provide an annual report to the Governor and the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committees that details program services, outputs and outcomes.

J.  Out of this appropriation, $25,000 the first year and $25,000 the second year from the federal Temporary Assistance For Needy Families (TANF) block grant shall be provided to  contract with the Visions of Truth Community Development Corporation (Visions of Truth) to support self-sufficiency programs for at-risk youth by improving education performance. The contract shall require Visions of Truth Community Development Corporation to provide at-risk students in grades 7-12 with a personalized learning program including standards of learning preparation and homework assistance from certified teachers and college students.  Visions of Truth shall report expenditures and performance on a quarterly basis and shall provide an annual report with detailed program results. 

K.1. Out of this appropriation, $2,250,000 the first year and $2,250,000 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to contract with the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation (VECF) to support the health and school readiness of Virginia’s young children prior to school entry. These funds shall be matched with local public and private resources with a goal of leveraging a dollar for each state dollar provided. 

2.  Of the amounts in paragraph K.1. above, $1,250,000 the first year and $1,250,000 the second year from the general fund shall be used to provide information and assistance to parents and families and to facilitate partnerships with both public and private providers of early childhood services.  VECF will track and report statewide and local progress on a biennial basis.  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.

3.  Of the amounts in paragraph K.1. above, $1,000,000 the first year and $1,000,000 the second year from the general fund shall be used to implement kindergarten readiness assessment programs based on the findings included in Elevate Early Education’s January 1, 2015 report.

4. 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.

L.  Out of this appropriation, $250,000 the first year from the general fund shall be used to contract with Elevate Early Education for the purpose of developing a pilot program for a kindergarten readiness assessment.  The contract with Elevate Early Education to administer this program shall require the submission of a final report from the organization detailing the assessment method(s) utilized, actual expenditures for the program, and outcome analysis and evaluation.  This report shall be submitted to the Governor, Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees, and the Secretaries of Health and Human Resources and Education no later than January 1, 2015.  Prior to the receipt of any state funding for this purpose, Elevate Early Education must provide evidence of private matching funds secured for this purpose.