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- Prevention and In-Home Services
Prevention and In-Home Services
All children deserve to live in a stable and safe home with caring adults. The Petersburg Department of Social Services offers services to help families who are having serious parenting problems or are going through a major crisis, such as abuse, neglect, drug/alcohol problems, mental health issues, stress, and/or lack of family support.
In-Home Services
The primary goal of In-Home services is to support families to safely maintain children in their own homes or with relative/fictive kin caregivers in their own communities, by addressing identified safety and risk concerns and reducing the reoccurrence of child maltreatment. This is achieved through engagement of the family, support systems, and other service providers. After a CPS investigation some families require some additional support to improve family communication and functioning. A Family Services Specialist will assess the situation, develop a service plan with the family around their identified needs and provide appropriate referrals and emergency interventions as required. The Family Services Specialists may also collaborate with court, schools, counselors and other professionals in service planning and delivery.
Family Support
Family Support Services assists families with children who are in need of emergency and supportive services. The goal of Foster Care Prevention is to enhance the family's ability to create and maintain a healthy home environment while ensuring the safety of children and family members.
Through the program, staff will address concerns identified by the family and provide services to minimize risk of homelessness, improve family communication, meet family goals and prevent out of home placement of children.
Crisis Intake
We know things happen and hardships arise. The Prevention unit wants to continue to assist families in staying together and remaining in their home. As an extension of Family Support services, the crisis intake unit strives to assist families with some financial assistance regrading rent and utilities. Those seeking assistance can come to the Petersburg Department of Social Services to receive an application or print off an application below and bring it in to the agency for review.