Child and Family Services

Vision

Our vision is for children with behavioral health needs and their families in Virginia to be healthy productive citizens who have seamless access to a comprehensive integrated system of care when needed that is community-based, child-centered, family-driven, outcomes-oriented, and culturally competent.

Our mission is to ensure high quality behavioral healthcare for children ages 0 through 21 and their families by:

• leading and supporting statewide efforts to establish and strengthen a comprehensive system of care for children and families; and
• building and participating in collaborative partnerships among families and child service providers across agencies and disciplines

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The Office of Child and Family Services holds that supports and services for children and families whose lives are affected by mental illness, mental retardation, and substance abuse disorders should:

• Empower families and children in developmentally appropriate ways to make choices in their lives
• Provide prompt assistance to those seeking professional support
• Promote integrated community-based services
• Ensure supports and services are easy to access, family-driven, individualized, flexible to changing needs and circumstances, culturally sensitive, and based on functional needs rather than categorical labels.
• Make available to families the level of supports and services needed to keep children with disabilities in their own homes
• Support understanding of family lifestyle limitations due to living with a family member with disabilities
• Provide education and training to providers of family support that will prepare them to work with people with disabilities in inclusive settings
• Maximize disability-specific and generic funding sources to the fullest and contain costs through reinvestment in supports which provide the strongest and most individualized outcomes for children and their families.

• have dignity and worth as human beings
• deserve equal access to public support services
• need families and friends who can serve as their strongest advocates and social supports
• are entitled to health, safety, and well-being, free from abuse, neglect, exploitation, or social stigmas
• need person-centered planning rather than professionally-driven services
• have the right to live in supportive communities
• participate in successful transition to adult supports and services

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• To promote the use of evidence based practices
• To develop a seamless system of care that integrate services across disciplines
• To partner with stakeholders working to improve services to children 
• To develop policies that promote children and family services
• To address gaps in existing services and
• To develop new services using evidence based practices and expand existing evidence based models 
• To increase family involvement on committees, councils, task forces, addressing children issues
• Increase funding for children services
• To show case services that are working in the Commonwealth

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• Infant & Toddler Connection of Virginia Web site – Early Intervention Services
• Child Care Assistance for Children with Special Needs
• Guidelines for the Use of Mental Health Initiative (MHI) Funds
• Mental Health Initiative Funding Allocations to CSBs
• Mental Health Initiative - Non-Mandated Children Reporting Form
• Office of Child and Family Services Demonstration Projects
• Virginia Federation of Families Family Support and Education

• Child and Family Advisory Committee
• Child and Family Behavioral Health Policy and Planning Committee (CFBHPPC), (Budget Item 330-F, 2004 Appropriations Act, July 1, 2005-June 30, 2006)

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• 330-F Report
• An Integrated Policy and Plan to Provide and Improve Access to Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services for Children, Adolescents and Their Families (Budget Item 311-E, 2006 Appropriations Act, July 1, 2006 - June 30, 2007)
• Child and Family Services Updates
  • June 2007   March 2007
  • December 2006  September 2006  June 2006  March - April 2006
  • December 2005  September 2005  June 2005  March 2005
  • December 2004
• Children’s Special Population Report
• Collection of Mental Health Treatments for Children & Adolescents
• Parent Satisfaction Survey FY 2006
• Report of the State Executive Council Workgroup on the Relinquishment of Custody for the Purpose of Accessing Behavioral Health Treatment (November 1, 2005)
• Virginia's Part C Early Intervention System
  • A Report on Virginia's Part C Early Intervention System (Budget Item 334K, July 1, 2005 - June 30, 2006)
  • A Report on Virginia’s Part C Early Intervention System (Budget Item 334K, 2004 Appropriations Act)
  • Part C Infrastructure Report
  • Part C Local Contract
  • Part C Policies and Procedures

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