Virginia Family Violence Prevention Program
and Community Based Child Abuse Prevention Program

The Department of Social Services administers both the Virginia Family Violence Prevention Program (VFVPP) and Community Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP) program grants for child abuse and neglect prevention.

The VFVPP Program was established in 1982 for purposes stated in the Code of Virginia, 63.2-1502.3: To assist in developing programs aimed at discovering and preventing the many factors causing child abuse and neglect. The program is focused on primary and secondary child abuse and neglect prevention - preventing child abuse and neglect before it occurs.

The Department of Social Services receives the federal CBCAP grant from the Office of Child Abuse and Neglect, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, under Section 201 of Title II of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA).

Grants awarded through VFVPP and CBCAP offer public and private, nonprofit incorporated agencies and organizations an opportunity to tailor child abuse and neglect prevention projects to state and local needs.

For the 2005-06 grant period, Virginia has 21 grantee organizations. To contact a grantee in your area, click here.

Developing Parent Leadership Through Parent Engagement

Parents are the primary decision-makers for their children and, as such, they are guardians of the future. Many voices speak on behalf of families, but families who experience the reality of parenting can express that reality more clearly than family-serving professionals, legislators and lobbyists. Parent engagement is an overarching principle of the family support movement. Community and family needs can only be met in ways that make sense to parents by sharing the leadership role. CBFRS grantees are committed to parent engagement. Contact a grantee in your area for more information.

Strategies for Putting Parent Engagement Into Action (14.8 KB)
Getting the Most Out of Parent Engagement (12.5 KB)

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Other Family Support Options:

Circle of Parents - These are parent-led, professionally-facilitated support groups for parents and other caregivers. Most groups have a free program for children as well. For more information about the national Circle of Parents program, visit the Web site www.circleofparents.org. For more information about parent support groups in Virginia, click here.