Department Of Human Services Units

Adult Protective Services / Adult Services

Adult Protective Services provides ongoing adult services, companion services, adult day care, and protection to enable aged or disabled adults to remain in their own homes rather than move to institutions. APS offers protective services to safeguard and defend adults from abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Transitional services are also provided to adults once they are released from institutions and returning to the community. Assistance is provided to people in nursing homes as well. APS also utilized Auxiliary Grants; this is a program that provides a cash payment for aged, blind or disabled individuals who reside in a licensed Assisted Living Facility (ALF).  The auxiliary grant payment makes up the shortfall between an individual’s income and the state rate charged by the ALF.

Customer Service Center

The Call Center works to funnel incoming client service inquiries to the right unit and department.  They also update client information for benefit/service delivery.

Center for Aging / Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia

The Center for Aging is Virginia’s first one-stop resource and referral center for Norfolk’s senior citizens and their caregivers. A unique partnership between the Norfolk Department of Human Services and Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia, the Center for Aging offers a streamlined application process and easy access to information about benefits and services offered by both agencies.

Child Care Assistance Program

The Norfolk Department of Human Services Child Care Program aids eligible families in the arrangement and/or purchase of childcare for their children under 13, and for special needs children under 18.

CPS (Child Protective Services)

Child Protective Services handles reports of abuse and neglect of children under the age of 18 and investigates with the goal of protecting children from physical, mental and medical neglect, and from physical and sexual abuse and exploitation. Services are also provided to prevent and alleviate family crises. Child Protective Services are provided on a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Domestic Violence

This unit deals with situations of Domestic Violence; or the use or threat of force by a member of a family or household, boyfriend or girlfriend, member of a former relationship, or other relative against a member of the same family or household.  This unit educates citizens on how to get help if they find themselves in this difficult situation.

Emergency Assistance

A program that provides a cash payment through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program to help alleviate emergency situations specifically related to 1) natural disaster or fire, or 2) total loss of family income in the winter months due to severe weather conditions or 3) a reduction in a labor force caused by an energy shortage. This assistance is limited to $500 in a twelve-month period.

Energy Assistance

This program assists low income households with their urgent heating and cooling needs.  Energy Assistance can help: repair heating and cooling equipment, pay energy bills and security deposits, and buy fuel for heating and cooling.

Family Preservation

Provides intense, specific services to families after an initial crisis has been addressed. Follow-up to Child Protective Services, counseling and supervision help at-risk families to gain strength and stability.

Food Stamps

Food Stamps are electronic benefits that can be used like cash to buy food at any store that has a sign displaying the Cardinal Card or the Quest sign.  This unit determines citizen eligibility and benefit amounts.

Food Assistance

Provides referrals to charitable organizations that can provide clients with meals and food.  Services needy populations as well as the homeless.

Foster Care and Adoption

Children whose birth parents are unable to provide a safe and permanent home enter this unit of Human Services. This unit helps to unite these worthy children with temporary foster care settings until a permanent “forever” family can be found to adopt the child.  They also provide foster parent training courses to educate and recruit foster and adoptive parents.

FSET (Food Stamp Employment and Training)

The Food Stamp Employment and Training Program (FSET) provides training, education, job search assistance, and work experience opportunities for food stamp recipients. FSET emphasizes personal responsibility and work, and strives to help participants achieve self-sufficiency.

General Relief

A two-component program intended to provide assistance that cannot be provided through other means.
General Relief - Unattached Child Maintenance Assistance -  A cash payment program to provide for the maintenance needs of the City’s children under age 18 who would be eligible for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) except for the relationship requirement.

General Relief Emergency/Short term (GRST) Medical Assistance - A short-term emergency program payable in the form of a vendor payment to provide for prescription medications or supplies.  This program is intended to meet the emergency medical needs of income eligible individuals, who because of a change in circumstances over which they have had no control, are in need of emergency prescription medications or supplies.

HART (Homeless Action Response Team)

HART is a cross functional team of Human Services employees whose mission is to develop processes, collaborations, and strategies to end homelessness in the City of Norfolk.  This team serves to be a single point of contact for homeless families and individuals seeking services.

HART also works with a non-government agency, Norfolk Emergency Shelter Team (NEST) to provide meals and shelter to homeless adults during the winter months.

Juvenile Court Liaison Team

Human Services provides both pre-adjudication and post-adjudication services and programs for youth involved in the juvenile justice system. Services for males are provided contractually at a local group home. Services for females are provided contractually through family oriented group homes. Services in each program include: food, shelter, basic medical services, individual, group and family counseling, and recreation. All residential programs operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Juvenile Detention

The mission of Juvenile Detention is to protect the community by providing security and control in secure and non - secure settings for juveniles being legally detained by court order, by a court of competent jurisdiction or by agreement with agencies with legal authority to place juveniles.

Lifeline

Lifeline was initiated by the city of Norfolk in 1999 to help Norfolk citizens avoid disruption in water service.  Lifeline offers financial assistance to low income seniors, families, and individuals to provide relief from the Hampton Roads Utility Bill.  This Human Services Unit works alongside the Norfolk Department of Utilities to provide information and assistance.

Medicaid / FAMIS (Family Access to Medical Insurance Security Plan)

Medicaid is a program that provides full or limited medical coverage for eligible individuals. FAMIS is a program that provides low cost health insurance (with nominal premiums and co-pays) for uninsured children. 

Norfolk A.C.C.E.S.S. (Automated Community Care Eligibility Screening System)

A quick, easy, and confidential way to determine if you are eligible for any of the Benefit Programs and Services that we offer.  Before you visit one of our locations, save time and verify if you can receive help with: Auxiliary Grants, Child Daycare, Emergency Assistance, Energy Assistance, FAMIS, Food Stamps, General Relief, Lifeline, Medicaid, Refugee Resettlement Program, State, and Local Hospitalization, Temporary Assistance for Needy families, and other programs.

State / Local Hospitalization

An assistance program that provides health care services for low income individuals who have a medical necessity and have no other medical coverage.

TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)

A program that provides monthly or one time cash assistance to families with related children. There are State and Federal limits on the number of total number of months that assistance can be received.

Workforce Development

VIEW (Virginia Initiative for Employment not Welfare)

KRA (Knowledge, Responsibility, and Achievement)

VIEW provides job readiness, job search, and job development/placement services.  Most TANF participants are mandated to enroll in VIEW.  Daycare, Transportation, and other services are included to give a participant the best opportunity to enter the workforce.