The goal of Child Protective Services (CPS) is to identify, assess and provide services to children and families in an effort to protect children, preserve families, whenever possible, and prevent further maltreatment. Child Protective Services is non-punitive in its approach and is directed toward enabling families to provide adequate care for their children.

Responsibilities of Child Protective Services include:

• Receive reports of child maltreatment
• Respond to valid reports of child maltreatment
• Facilitate services to children and families
• Support and strengthen families

CPS also develops statewide public awareness and education programs and administrates state and federal grants to prevent abuse and neglect.

Criteria for Child Abuse

• Alleged victim is under the age of 18 at the time of the report
• Alleged abuser is in a caretaking role
• Alleged abuse or neglect meets the definition of abuse or neglect as defined by the CPS laws, regulations and policy
• The Virginia Department of Social Services local agency has jurisdiction to respond to the report

Hotline Numbers

In Virginia
(800) 552-7096

Out-of-State
(804) 786-8536

CPS Hotline staff may provide general information and educational materials about child abuse or neglect to callers from the general public, childcare providers, school educators and medical professionals on recognizing and reporting suspected child abuse or neglect.

For more information, please visit the Virginia DSS website.

Mandated Reporters

Virginia Department of Social Services now has an innovative and secure website, VaCPS, which allows Virginia mandated reporters the ability to submit, in their own words, a report of child abuse or neglect to the VDSS State Hotline. This tool is ONLY for reports of suspected CHILD abuse or neglect that is not an emergency.