People helping people triumph over poverty, abuse, and neglect to shape strong futures for themselves, their families, and our community.
Here in Prince Edward County, we are dedicated to providing essential benefits and services to our citizens. Guided by a mission to empower and protect, we administer a wide range of programs established by local, state, and federal laws. Whether you are seeking assistance with food and housing, need support for your family, or wish to report a concern about the safety of a child or adult, our team is here to help you navigate the resources available to you.
We invite you to explore our services and learn how we can support you on your path to stability and self-sufficiency.
Immediate & Urgent Information
If you are facing an emergency or need to make an urgent report, please use the resources below.
Reporting Child or Adult Abuse & Neglect
- In Emergent Cases, Always Call 911 First.
- To Report Suspected Adult Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation: Call the 24-hour, toll-free Adult Protective Services (APS) hotline at (888) 832-3858.
- For Mandated Reporters of Child Abuse/Neglect: The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) provides VaCPS, an innovative and secure website that allows mandated reporters to expedite the submission of a report of suspected child abuse or neglect directly to the VDSS State Hotline. Partnering with mandated reporters is essential to the safety, permanency, and well-being of Virginia’s children.
After-Hours Document Drop Box
We understand that limited access to transportation and restrictive work schedules can make it difficult to visit our office during business hours. To better serve the residents of Prince Edward County, we have installed a secure after-hours drop box located just outside our main office entrance. This allows our customers to submit required documents in a timely and convenient manner. All items placed in the box are officially received and processed the next business day.
How We Help: A Guide to Our Services
At the Prince Edward Department of Social Services, we provide a broad array of human service programs for county residents who have financial, social, educational, health, and emotional needs. Our department serves on the front line of intervention, assessment, and service provision. Our services are broadly categorized into Benefit Programs, which provide direct financial and material assistance, and Service Programs, which offer protection, support, and case management.
Click on any program below to learn more about how we can assist you.
Benefit Programs: Financial & Material Support
These programs are designed to provide a safety net for individuals and families, helping them meet their basic needs while they work toward long-term financial independence.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
The SNAP program, formerly known as the Food Stamp program, helps low-income individuals and families buy the food they need for good health. Benefits are provided on an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, which can be used like a debit card at authorized grocery stores and farmers’ markets. The goal of SNAP is to alleviate hunger and improve nutrition and health. Eligibility is based on household size, income, and certain expenses. We are committed to ensuring every eligible resident has access to the nutrition they need to thrive.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
TANF provides temporary financial assistance to eligible families with children. This program is more than a monthly cash payment; it is a core component of the Virginia Independence Program (VIP), designed to help families achieve self-sufficiency. The program is based on principles of personal responsibility, time-limited assistance, and work in exchange for benefits. Participants in the TANF program are often enrolled in the VIEW program to gain valuable work skills and experience.
Medical Assistance Programs (Medicaid)
Medicaid is a vital joint federal and state program that provides essential medical and medically related services to our community’s most vulnerable populations. It is a critical source of health insurance for eligible low-income families, children, pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities. There are several Medical Assistance programs in Virginia, and when you apply, you are screened for all for which you may be eligible based on age, income, and other factors. Covered groups include:
- Children Under Age 19
- Parents & Caretakers of Dependent Children
- Pregnant Women
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Recipients
- Adults Aged 65 or Older, Blind or Disabled
- Individuals in Medical Institutions
- Medicare Beneficiaries (for help with premiums/co-pays)
- And more, including family planning and cancer screening programs.
Energy Assistance Programs
Prince Edward County operates federally mandated Energy Assistance Programs to ensure residents can stay safe in extreme weather.
- Fuel Assistance: Helps with home heating costs during the winter months. Benefits are typically determined and sent to vendors in December.
- Crisis Assistance: Intended to meet emergency heating needs, such as a broken furnace or an empty fuel tank. This assistance can cover heating equipment repair/purchase, a one-time security deposit for heat, or an emergency fuel delivery. Available starting January 1st.
- Cooling Assistance: During the summer, this program helps households with a vulnerable member (aged, disabled, or under six) by providing window air conditioners, fans, or payment for electricity to run cooling equipment.
Auxiliary Grants (AG)
The Auxiliary Grant program provides a supplement to income for individuals who are aged, blind, or disabled and reside in a licensed assisted living facility (ALF). If an individual’s income is not enough to cover the cost of care in an ALF, an AG can bridge the gap. The grant includes a personal allowance for the resident. Recipients of AG also receive medical assistance through Medicaid. This program is state and locally funded and is a critical resource for ensuring our elderly and disabled citizens can live in a safe, supportive environment.
Child Care Subsidy Program
Access to affordable, high-quality child care is essential for working families. The Child Care Subsidy Program provides financial assistance to eligible families to help pay for the cost of child care, allowing parents to work, attend school, or participate in a job training program. This program is child-centered and family-focused, supporting both the family’s goal of economic self-sufficiency and the child’s healthy development in a quality early childhood environment. Families can choose from any legally operating child day care facility that is eligible to participate.
Service Programs: Protection & Family Support
These programs are focused on ensuring the safety, well-being, and stability of children, adults, and families through intervention, case management, and long-term support.
Child Protective Services (CPS)
The primary goal of Child Protective Services is to ensure the safety and well-being of children. Our dedicated CPS team identifies, assesses, and provides services to children and families to protect children from harm, preserve families whenever possible, and prevent future maltreatment. CPS is non-punitive and is directed toward strengthening a family’s ability to provide a safe and nurturing environment. Our responsibilities include:
- Receiving and investigating reports of child abuse and neglect.
- Assessing child safety and family needs.
- Providing and coordinating services to enhance safety and prevent further maltreatment.
Adult Protective Services (APS)
Just as we protect children, we are also mandated to protect vulnerable adults. The APS program investigates reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of adults 60 years of age or older and incapacitated adults aged 18 or older. If an adult is found to be in need of protection and accepts assistance, our social workers can arrange for a wide variety of health, housing, social, and legal services to stop the mistreatment. The goal is to help adults remain as independent as possible, preferably in their own homes, while ensuring their safety and dignity.
Foster Care
Foster care provides a temporary, safe, and nurturing home for children who have been removed from their birth families due to abuse, neglect, or other issues endangering their safety. Every effort is first made to help a child remain safely with their family, but when that is not possible, foster families step in to provide care. These dedicated families work as a team with our social workers, the biological family, and the child to achieve a permanent, safe home for the child, with the primary goal being reunification with the birth family whenever safely possible. Our program provides extensive training and support to foster parents to help them meet the unique needs of children in care.
Adoption Services
When a child cannot be safely returned to their birth family, adoption provides them with a new, permanent, and loving family. Adoption is a social and legal process that grants new parents the same rights and obligations as biological parents. While there are several types of adoption, our primary focus is on adoptions from foster care. We work to connect children who are legally free for adoption with families who can provide a stable, lifelong home. By adopting, you give a child the greatest gift of all: a permanent place to belong.
Adult Services & Home-Based Care
This program is designed to assist elderly individuals and adults with impairments who need support to enhance their self-sufficiency and improve their quality of life. The ultimate goal is to help adults remain as independent as possible in their own homes and communities, reducing the need for institutional placement. Services may include:
- Home-based Services: Companion, chore, and homemaker services.
- Assessments: For adults entering or residing in assisted living facilities or nursing homes.
- Case Management: To coordinate a variety of supports.
- Other Supports: Including adult foster care, adult day care, and nutrition services.
Virginia Initiative for Employment not Welfare (VIEW)
The VIEW program is the employment, education, and training component for recipients of TANF. It is founded on the conviction that all citizens deserve the opportunity to achieve economic independence. VIEW offers participants a path to self-sufficiency by providing them with the work experience, skills, and support necessary to secure and maintain employment. VIEW offers a number of education, training, and work activities tailored to individual needs, helping participants contribute to the well-being of their families and our community.
Title IV-E Program
This is a federally funded program that provides crucial financial reimbursement to Virginia for costs associated with foster care and adoption assistance. This funding helps us ensure proper care for eligible children in foster care and provide ongoing subsidies to families who adopt children with special needs. By securing these federal funds, we can better support our maintenance, administration, and training activities, ultimately benefiting the children and families we serve.
How to Apply for Assistance
We strive to make the application process as accessible as possible. You can apply for benefits through several convenient methods:
- Online (Recommended): CommonHelp
The fastest and easiest way to apply is through CommonHelp, the Commonwealth of Virginia’s official online portal for social services. You can apply for a wide range of benefits from any computer with an internet connection, 24/7. - Over the Phone
You can apply over the phone by calling the Enterprise Customer Service Center. A representative can guide you through the application process. - In Person
You are always welcome to visit our office to pick up a paper application. Our staff can answer any initial questions you may have. - By Mail
Please call our office, and we will be happy to mail a paper application to your address.
Join Our Team: Employment Opportunities
Are you passionate about helping others and strengthening our community? A career in social services can be incredibly rewarding.
All applications for employment with Prince Edward Social Services must be submitted online through the official Virginia State Job Website. Please note that we do not accept paper State of Virginia Employment Applications.
To view and apply for any available positions, please visit the link below and search for openings in Prince Edward County.