55° Forecast

Document Center

Amherst County Department of Social Services

Phone: (434) 946-9330

Child Abuse 24 hour Hotline: 1-800-552-7096 (Voice/TDD accessible)

Adult Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation 24 hour Hotline: 1-888-832-3858

Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30a.m. - 5:00p.m.
 
Applicants do not require an appointment; simply ask for the type of assistance needed.
 
Adoption: Adoptive placements are made on behalf of foster children eligible for adoption. Reports concerning independent adoption placement are provided upon order from the Courts.
 
Adult Protective Services: Adults, who are 60 years of age and older, or at least 18 years of age and older and incapacitated, who are abused, neglected, or exploited are eligible for this service regardless of income. 
 
Adult Services: Services to adults are provided to anyone 60 years old and over, or at least 18 years old and impaired, and are designed to maximize self-sufficiency, prevent abuse or inappropriate institutionalization, and to assist with appropriate placement, such as Adult Living Facility and Nursing Home.
 
Auxiliary Grant Program (AGP): AGP provides assistance to eligible individuals living in domiciliary institutions (Adult Living Facilities) whose income is insufficient to cover the total cost of care.
 
Child Protective Services: Children under 18 who may be abused or neglected by a caretaker are entitled to this service regardless of income. 
 
Day Care Services to Children: Families, such as TANF recipients, food assistance recipients, or low income working parents, who meet certain requirements, may be eligible to receive payment or subsidy for their day care costs.
 
Emergency Assistance (TANF-EA): TANF-EA provides a one-time money payment to eligible households with minor children who have experienced an emergency such as fire, flood, or natural disaster.
 
Employment Services: Recipients of TANF participate in individual job search activities, education and training, and work experience, to obtain employment and financial independence.
 
Energy Assistance: Low income households may receive assistance with their heating needs through Fuel Assistance and Crisis Assistance Programs.
 
Family Access to Medical Insurance Security (FAMIS): FAMIS is medical insurance for children who are uninsured and meet financial eligibility requirements. 
 
Food Assistance: Low-income households may be eligible for a supplement to their food budgets. 
 
Foster Care: Temporary shelter and care are provided for children who are unable to remain in their own homes.
 
Home Based Care (Companion Services): Companion Services may be purchased to assist eligible clients 60 years old and over, or at least 18 years old and impaired, who are unable to care for themselves while remaining in their own home.
 
Intake Services: Customers receive information/referral and assessment, as well as assistance in emergency situations such as lack of food, shelter, or clothing.
 
Medicaid: Costs of certain medical care for qualified low income persons, such as the elderly, disabled, blind, expectant mothers and children, meeting particular eligibility requirements are provided under the medical assistance program.
 
Prevention & Support Services for Families: An array of counseling and home based services are provided to prevent family violence, child neglect or removal, family breakdown, and to strengthen the capacity of the family to function independently.
 
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF): TANF is a financial assistance program provided to parents and relatives, who are responsible for a minor child, and who meet income and resource requirements.
 
Volunteer Services: Resource acquisition, community resource development, transportation services, food assistance and holiday sponsorship are provided under the purview of volunteer services.