Social Services

Noteworthy News

Agency Hours

8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday

CALL CENTER

(804) 318-8777

The Call Center for Benefit Programs:  Customers can use the above number to report changes to active cases:

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Food Stamps, Medicaid, General Relief, and State and Local Hospitalization.

Prospective Foster Parent Informational Meeting and Training

The next Informational meeting for potential foster parents will be held on Tuesday night, July 15 from 6 - 8 p.m. at Social Services located at 9501 Lucy Corr Circle, Chesterfield, VA 23832. The informational meeting orients the prospective foster parent about Virginia's approval standards to become a foster parent, the responsibilities for fostering children, the role in continuing connections with the birth family, as well as answer the applicant's specific questions.

Attendance to an informational meeting is required before an applicant is invited to the next Foster Parent Training series which is anticipated to begin in late August 2008. Foster Parent Training consists of 27 hours of interactive classroom-style learning, and includes a number of contacts within the home. Classes meet on Mondays from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. for nine consecutive weeks excluding holidays. The sessions cover knowledge and skills a person will need to become foster/adoptive parents for Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Social Services.

Training is located in the conference room at Chesterfield Colonial Heights Department of Social Services - The Smith Wagner Building, 9501 Lucy Corr Circle Chesterfield, Virginia.

There is a special need for homes for older children and teens.

Applicants must successfully complete training in order to be considered foster/adoptive parents.
For additional information regarding foster parenting please click on Foster Parent Recruit Program in the Sections Column.

For questions and or comments between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays contact:
Nancy Hamacher, Family Development Specialist at 804 748-1103
Email: hamachern@chesterfield.gov
or
Lavinia Hopkins, Family Development Specialist at 804 318-8056
Email: hopkinsl@chesterfield.gov

Foster Parent Recruitment

There is a significant need for Foster Parents who are willing to foster sibling groups, school age children and teens. We will offer specialized training for those foster parents who are willing to take teens in addition to an increased stipend and extra social work support.

For information on becoming a Foster Parent, you may call Nancy Hamacher at (804) 748-1103, or Lavinia Hopkins at (804) 318-8056, Family Development Specialists, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays.

Crisis and Energy Assistance Programs

Crisis Assistance Program - Starting from November 1 through March 15 - applications are accepted to help with repair or replacement of heating equipment, a one time only security deposit, and/or emergency shelter. The first work day in January applications for payment of heat , utility bills or the purchase of home heating fuel will be accepted.

Energy Share Program: Applications accepted from December 16 until May 31 or until the funds run out. This program provides one payment per eligible family to keep or restore their heat per heating season

Customer Service Feedback Phone Line

A 24-Hour Customer Service Feedback Phone Line is available for you to provide comments on the customer service you received. The phone line is automated. You may leave a voice-mail message 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All messages will be retrieved daily (Monday through Friday) and if you request a response, we will call you during normal business hours. Don't forget, if you would like a response, please include your telephone number and name.

The phone number is:

(804) 751-2258 (English)
(804) 751-2259 (Spanish)