If you suspect a child is in immediate danger, call 911.

Report Child Abuse and/or Neglect

Anyone may report suspected child maltreatment to Albemarle County Department of Social Services by calling 434-972-4010.

If you are a mandated reporter you can also use the VaCPS Mandated Reporter Portal to submit your report  Online Here.

After 5pm nights, weekends and holidays, call the statewide Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline toll-free at 800-552-7096 (in Virginia) or 804-786-8536 (Out-of-State). Language Interpretive Services available.

Caution: Do not use email to report suspected incidents of child abuse or neglect. It causes delays and confidentiality may not be ensured.

Information for Report

Provide as much of the following information as possible when calling in a report of suspected child abuse or neglect:

• Name of the child who is the alleged victim
• Age of the child
• Home address or address where the child can be reached
• Alleged perpetrator, if known
• Parents’, caregivers’ names, phone numbers and addresses, if known
• Specific physical and behavioral indicators of maltreatment
• Type of suspected abuse

While reports may remain anonymous, knowing the name and phone number of the reporter allows CPS to obtain additional information if necessary. The agency staff taking the information for the report will ask for as many details about the maltreatment as the reporter is able to provide.

About Child Protective Services

Child Protective Services (CPS) identifies, assesses, and provides services to children who have been abused or neglected and to their families. It is designed to preserve families whenever possible yet protect children and prevent further maltreatment.

The CPS program is non-punitive in its approach and attempts to enable families to provide adequate care for their children. CPS utilizes a Differential Response System, allowing response much of the time using a Family Assessment process. This process is service oriented, and strength based.

CPS in Albemarle County also utilizes a research-based protocol, Structured Decision Making (SDM), to guide critical decisions during the life of a case, ensuring a greater level of consistency to reduce reoccurrence of child maltreatment.

Additional Resources

For more information regarding Child Protective Services, please visit Virginia Department of Social Services.