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Virginia Social Services commissioner urges investments in child‑protective staffing, kinship and technology
Summary
The commissioner of the Department of Social Services told the House subcommittee the agency seeks targeted funds for child‑protective services staffing and hotline modernization, steps to restore program capacity, and initiatives to expand employment pathways and 211 referrals.
James Williams, commissioner of the Virginia Department of Social Services, briefed the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the department’s budget priorities Friday, focused on child welfare staffing, modernizing intake technology and expanding programs to move clients toward employment.
Williams said the department’s total spending in fiscal 2024 was about $2.9 billion, roughly half federal funds and about 20% state general funds, and described a multi‑part package aimed at child protective services (CPS) and local service capacity. “This is a front door to all of our benefits delivery and all the services that we offer, obviously,” Williams said, describing the local departments of social services as the “front door.”
The governor’s amendment includes an initial $7,900,000 investment to begin addressing CPS workload and technology shortcomings, Williams said. That package would allocate $500,000 to overhaul the CPS hotline…
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