Department of Social Services

The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) is a state supervised and locally administered social services system. Providing oversight and guidance to 120 local offices across the state, VDSS delivers a wide variety of services and benefits to over 1.7 million Virginians each year.

VDSS' programs are designed to help Virginia's most vulnerable citizens find permanent solutions to life's many challenges. The Department is responsible for administering a variety of programs, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, Adoption, Child Care Assistance, Refugee Resettlement Services, and Child and Adult Protective Services.

Our goal is to promote the well-being of our citizens through the delivery of essential services and benefits to ensure families are strengthened, and individuals achieve their highest level of self-sufficiency.

Every political jurisdiction in Virginia is required by state law to provide social services to their residents. Each department has a corresponding local board (§63.2-300 of the Code of Virginia).

Board members are expected to:

• Attend board and committee meetings
• Be or become knowledgeable about the programs, goals, and objectives of the department
• Actively engage state and local social services issues
• Monitor and review department performance.
• The public is welcomed to attend the meeting unless a closed session is convened as permitted by law.
• Meetings occur at Northumberland Department of Social Services at 3 PM. The 2024 schedule follow: