Energy Assistance Manual
FAMILY BASED SOCIAL SERVICES POLICY
An effective social service and public assistance system is designed to meet the basic needs of individuals and families who need help. The system shall provide services within the needy family’s home community and within an environment that promotes family stability whenever possible. In order to accomplish effective social and public assistance services within Virginia’s locally administered, State supervised system, each local department must administer programs based upon a philosophy of family based social service delivery.
Benefit Programs are designed to provide income support benefits to assist families who are unable to provide the necessities of life and maintain minimum standards of health and well-being through their own efforts. Determinations of eligibility are based on a process of gathering information relevant to the family’s situation in order to assess the need and eligibility for Benefit Programs. This process also includes an assessment of need for service programs and other resources to assist the family. If other needs exist, the family is to be referred for appropriate services or resources within the LDSS or community.