ASSISTANCE TO PAY FOR PROGRAMS

Department of Social Services

The Child Care Subsidy Program assists families in paying child care costs for children under age 13 who are not eligible to attend public school during the part of the day when public education is available, or children with special needs under age 18 who reside with the applicant. If you are eligible and are approved for services, the Subsidy Program can pay a portion of your child care costs directly to the child care provider. To apply for subsidy childcare, please visit www.commonhelp.virginia.gov.

For additional information please visit www.childcareva.com.

Charlottesville Department of Social Services
Contact- Alyssa Cattell-Gordon, (434) 906-9810, gordona@charlottesville.gov

Albemarle County Department of Social Services
Contact- Glenda Best, (434)962-9091, gbest@albemarle.org

Early Learners Scholarship

The Early Learners Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to working families to access quality care and early education.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Applicant must have legal custody of child(ren)
• Parent/Guardian(s) and co-applicant (if applicable) must be working a minimum of 30 hours per week
• Annual household income must meet Federal Poverty Guidelines as outlined below:

For more information visit the United Way website.

ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN

Child Health Partnership

Child Health Partnership is a non-profit home visiting program which partners with pregnant women and families with children under seven. Our services are free and voluntary for residents of the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle, Fluvanna, and Louisa Counties. Our mission is to partner with families to create nurturing home environments and to promote the health and well-being of children in our community. Our dedicated teams of community health nurses and professional family support specialists meet with families in their homes where we work to develop trusting relationships, promote family health and well-being, enhance parenting skills and confidence, and foster self-sufficiency. We partner with families to set goals, solve problems, and connect with community resources.

Our nurses conduct health assessments, provide health education, and improve client access to care. We believe that parents are their children’s first and best teachers. Using the Parents as Teachers curriculum, our family support specialists offer child development education and activities to help children’s development and to strengthen the parent-child bond. Our teams work with parents to screen all children in our program using the Ages and Stages Developmental Screening Tools, and help refer children for further evaluation and support when needed.

Many of our staff are fluent in Spanish and we utilize interpreters as needed with other ESOL clients. Confidential on-line referrals may be made at www.childhealthpartnership.org or by calling our office at (434) 964-4700. To complete a developmental screening on your child, visit our on-line screening portal at www.asqonline.com/family/bcd8f0 (English) or www.asqonline.com/family/44d982 (Spanish) or contact Rosemary Beard Heflin at (434) 760-4215 for additional information.

ReadySteps

ReadySteps encourages parents as a child's first and best teacher through early learning playgroups within their home community.

Eligibility: All parents and caregivers, with children ages birth-5 years old, who live in the Charlottesville, Albemarle, and surrounding areas are invited to attend. We offer weekly groups in the neighborhoods of Greenstone on 5th, Southwood, Friendship Court, and Parks Edge (All groups are virtual during COVID).

Families can sign up here: https://readykidscville.org/early-learning/ready-steps/referral-form/

Healthy Families

Healthy Families fosters nurturing family relationships for pregnant moms and safe environments for young children through regular home visiting.

Eligibility: Pregnant mothers in the city of Charlottesville or Albemarle County. Families who live in Charlottesville or Albemarle and have children up to five years old.

**Families must enroll before the child is three months old.

Families can sign up using this form or by calling 434-296-4118 x 229

REAL Dads

REAL Dads coaches incarcerated fathers and fathers who want a stronger relationship with their children to have Responsible, Empowered, Available and Loving relationships with their families.

Eligibility: Fathers who are incarcerated at the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail. Or, fathers living in Charlottesville or Albemarle who desire fatherhood coaching.

Fathers living in the community can provide their information via our online referral system and we will reach out to you! Or, call us at (434) 296-4118 x 229. Or, e-mail us at realdads@readykidscville.org

Inside Out Counseling Program

Inside Out provides counseling to help kids and families who have experienced trauma begin the healing process.

Eligibility: Youth ages 2-18, living in Charlottesville, Albemarle, Fluvanna, Louisa, Greene, or Nelson Counties who have experienced trauma, including but not limited to physical abuse, sexual abuse, and domestic violence. Counselors may include safe caregivers in counseling sessions.

Participants can request an appointment using this form, or by calling the Inside Out Referral Line:

English: (434) 906-0763
Spanish: (434) 906-7895

SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES

Infant Toddler Connection

The Infant & Toddler Connection of the Blue Ridge provides early intervention services to children from birth to their 3rd birthday. Any infant or toddler in Virginia who isn't developing as expected or who has a medical condition that can delay typical development is eligible to receive early intervention supports and services under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Infant & Toddler Connection supports and provides services for infants, toddlers, and their families so that families can help their children learn during everyday activities and routines.

For More information, visit Infant and Toddler Connection of the Blue Ridge - Region Ten, call Karen Taylor at 434-970-1491 or 434-422-6537, or email karen.taylor@regionten.org.

Early Childhood Special Education

The Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) program serves children ages 2-5 years old (as of 9/30) who have been found eligible for special education with an identified disability. Classroom programs are located in several elementary schools, where up to 8 children with special needs are taught by a certified ECSE and preschool staff, in the context of a center-based or inclusive preschool classroom. Students who are eligible for ECSE receive special education services according to Individual Education Plans (IEPs).

• Contact for Infant Toddler Connection - Susan Shaw (434) 970-1391
• Contact for Albemarle Public Schools - Early Childhood Special Education Office at (434) 973-2490
• Contact for Charlottesville City Schools - Rachel Rasnake (434) 245-2664
• Contact for Louisa County Public Schools - Carla Alpern (540) 894-5115
• Contact for Fluvanna County Public Schools - Jennifer Valentine or Lori Scalzo (434) 589-8208
• Contact for Greene County Public Schools - Kaki Payne kpayne@greenecountyschools.com or (434) 939-9002
• Contact for Nelson County Public Schools - Sandra Irby (434) 260-7646 x1005

FOOD SERVICES

WIC

The Virginia WIC Program stands for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. The Program provides nutrition education, breastfeeding promotion and support, supplemental nutritious foods, counseling at WIC clinics, and screening and referrals to other health, welfare, and social services. The goal of the WIC Program is to improve the health of pregnant women, infants and children (under 5 years) through better nutrition and access to health care. To be eligible for the WIC Program, applicants must meet categorical, residential, income, and nutrition risk requirements.

Visit https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/wic/ for more information.

Food Assistance

For a list of food banks and pantrys, click here: https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/albemarle_county_food_pantries.html

SNAP

SNAP-Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), embodies our country’s long-standing commitment against hunger ascertaining everyone has access to food. Local departments of social services administer this nutrition program while supervised by the Virginia Department of Social Services.

The overall goal of SNAP is to alleviate hunger and malnutrition by increasing resources for the purchase of food for a nutritious diet. Key functions, goal, and initiative:

• Improve likelihood that SNAP recipients will make healthy food choices within a limited budget and consistent with the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the USDA food guidance.
• As a result of a disaster, family crisis, or temporary periods of unemployment, SNAP responds quickly and effectively to support communities during times of increased need
• Boosts state economies throughout local communities. Increase overall purchasing power by allowing SNAP recipients to spend money on other basic needs while these benefits cover food.

Community and public health collaborating with schools and other organizations to improve the school nutrition environment.

For more information: https://www.dss.virginia.gov/benefit/snap.cgi
To Apply: www.commonhelp.virginia.gov

INFANT NEEDS

Diaper Assistance

For assistance with diapers, visit: https://donordiapers.wixsite.com/moms4moms

Formula Assistance

For assistance with formula, visit: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/thomas-jefferson/community-health-programs/maternal-child-health/

Baby & Safety Equipment

https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/thomas-jefferson/community-health-programs/maternal-child-health/

Car Seat

If you are in need of car seat assistance, visit: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/thomas-jefferson/community-health-programs/maternal-child-health/

Developmental Screening

The Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3) can help you keep track of your child's development, age 0-5. The ASQ-3 provides reliable, accurate, developmental and social-emotional screening for children between one month and 5 1/2 years.

The ASQ-3 includes questions about your child’s communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem solving, and personal social skills. Drawing on parents' knowledge of their own children, ASQ has been specifically designed to identify progress and catch delays in young children – helping them grow up healthy. Once the ASQ-3 is completed, Child Health Partnership will send you the results, along with age appropriate activities to help your child's development. If there are any areas of concern, you will be provided with additional resources available to parents with young children in our area.

Visit https://childhealthpartnership.org/developmental-screening/ to complete your screening today!

Infant Toddler Connection

The Infant & Toddler Connection of the Blue Ridge provides early intervention services to children from birth to their 3rd birthday. Any infant or toddler in Virginia who isn't developing as expected or who has a medical condition that can delay typical development is eligible to receive early intervention supports and services under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Infant & Toddler Connection supports and provides services for infants, toddlers, and their families so that families can help their children learn during everyday activities and routines.

For More information, visit Infant and Toddler Connection of the Blue Ridge - Region Ten, call Karen Taylor at 434-970-1491 or 434-422-6537, or email karen.taylor@regionten.org.