Secretary of Health and Human Resources: Frequently Asked Questions

1. Where can I get help in getting my birth certificate, a death certificate, marriage or divorce record?
To obtain a copy of a vital record, contact the Office of Vital Records and Health Statistics at (804) 662-6200 or go to the Office of Vital Records Web site.

2. How do I apply for a license to be a health care practitioner in Virginia?
You may obtain information by calling the Department of Health Professions at (804) 662-9900 and asking to be directed to the health regulatory board that licenses or certifies that profession. You may also write the board at 6603 West Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23230.

3. Where can I report child abuse or neglect?
The Virginia Department of Social Services operates a statewide Child Protective Services (CPS) hotline 24 hours a day, seven days per week to receive reports of child abuse and neglect and refer them to the appropriate local department of social services for investigation. The hotline numbers are:

Hotline (instate): (800) 552-7096
Hotline (hearing-impaired): (800) 828-1120

More information is available at: http://www.dss.virginia.gov/family/childabuse.html

4. Where can I report adult abuse or neglect?
The Virginia Department of Social Services provides two hotlines operating 24 hours a day, seven days per week:

Virginia Adult Protective Services Hotline - 1-800-83ADULT
The Virginia Family Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline - 1-800-838-8238

5. Where can I file a complaint against a hospital or nursing home?
To file a complaint or report a possible violation by a Virginia hospital or nursing home, you may call the Office of Licensure and Certification’s 24-hour Hotline is ready to receive complaints: 1-800-955-1819. To file a complaint via telephone:

Provide your name, telephone number, and address. You may remain anonymous.
Identify the medical care entity being reported
Provide a detailed summary of concerns
Be prepared to provide additional details as requested by the Hotline staff.

6. Where can I file a complaint against an assisted living facility or child care program?
To file a complaint or report a possible violation by an assisted living facility or child care program, please call the Virginia Department of Social Services Licensing Hotline at 1-800-543-7545 or (804) 726-7154 (Richmond). To file a complaint via telephone:

Provide your name, telephone number, and address. You may remain anonymous.
Identify the facility being reported by name and address.
Provide a detailed summary of concerns.
Be prepared to provide additional details as requested (unless you opt to remain anonymous.
You will be sent a letter with the investigation’s finding, unless you opt to remain anonymous.

7. Where can I file a complaint against a doctor or other health care practitioner?
To file a complaint or report a possible violation by a Virginia health care practitioner, you may call toll-free at 1-800-533-1560 or in Richmond, call 662-9956.

8. Where can I find information about a health care practitioner?
To find information about any health care practitioner licensed by one of the thirteen boards of the Department of Health Professions, visit www.dhp.virginia.gov and click on License Lookup. You can then search by license number, name, occupation, license status or zip code. This site provides licensing information, location and additional public information. For additional information on doctors of medicine, osteopathic medicine or podiatry, click on Doctors’ Profiles. This site can be searched by hospital affiliation, name, profession, specialty, locality or languages spoken in the office. The site includes information on office locations, board certifications, education, hospital affiliations, paid malpractice claims, disciplinary actions and more. If you do not have internet access, you currently may call 804-662-9999 for the above information. Beginning October 1st, you may call 211 toll-free to get any information available on the website.

9. Where can I locate services that are available to the elderly in Virginia?
Your local Area Agency on Aging can provide you a listing of services that it provides to seniors age 60 and older in the Commonwealth. They can also determine your eligibility to participate in these programs. The location of the nearest Area Agency on Aging and other information is available on the Virginia Department for the Aging website at: www.vda.virginia.gov

In addition, the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired provides independent living skills training and other services to assist seniors in adjusting to their vision loss and maintaining their independence. Visit the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired website at http://www.vdbvi.org/

10. How can I get treatment for a family member with mental health, mental retardation, or substance abuse problems?
Call the Community Services Board in the locality where the family member lives. For a complete listing of all 40 community service boards, go to: http://www.dmhmrsas.virginia.gov/SVC-CSBDetails.asp. You may also wish to search for providers of mental health, mental retardation, and substance abuse services who are licensed by the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services, go to: http://www.dmhmrsas.virginia.gov/LPSS/LPSS.aspx

11. Where in my community can I find information on local resources and services for people with disabilities and their families?
A listing of Centers for Independent Living (CILs)—key nonprofit local organizations directed and operated by people with disabilities—can be found at http://www.vadrs.org/cbs/cilslisting.htm. CILs provide peer counseling, information & referral services, self-advocacy training, and other forms of direct assistance emphasizing community-based, self-directed supports for people with disabilities and their families. Other good sources of local information and links to support and advocacy networks include:

PEATC Virginia Resources: http://www.peatc.org/varesources.htm
ARC Chapters: http://www.arcofva.org/vachapters.htm
Commonwealth Autism Services resource list: http://www.autismva.org/support_groups.php (not just for families of children with autism.)
Parent to Parent: http://www.ptpofva.com/index.html (and their VA-INFO service)

For a comprehensive review of Virginia’s disability services system that identifies available services, sources of information, points of access, funding sources, quality assurance mechanisms, and extensive lists of references and resources, visit the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities’ website at http://www.vaboard.org/biennial.htm or contact the Board at info@vbpd.virginia.gov or 1-800-846-4464.

12. Where can I find services for someone who is blind or has limited vision?
Visit the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired website at http://www.vdbvi.org/

13. Where can I access interpreter services for people who are deaf or hard of hearing?
Depending on the person’s communications needs, you may receive assistance from the Virginia Department of Deaf and Hard of Hearing (VDDHH). VDDHH providers an interpreter directory if the person requires a sign language interpreter. As you schedule ongoing meetings you may also use Virginia Relay to call the person – just dial 711! If the person is hard of hearing, you may use an assistive listening device. Call VDDHH for information in devices available for loan. We also have local contact people called Outreach specialists who can assist you with ongoing needs for customers with hearing loss. For more information call VDDHH at 1-800-552-7917 V/TTY or visit their website at www.vddhh.org

14. What health care programs are available for low income individuals?
The two main health care programs that help pay for medical care for low income individuals are the Medicaid program and the Family Access to Medical Insurance Security (FAMIS) program. The Medicaid program covers certain groups of individuals such as pregnant women, children, people with disabilities, and people age 65 and older who also have limited resources and low incomes. The FAMIS program covers children in families with incomes somewhat higher than the Medicaid income limits. For example, for a family of four, the income limit for Medicaid is $26,600 per year and the income limit for FAMIS is $40,000.

Individuals can find out whether they qualify for either the Medicaid or the FAMIS program by contacting the Department of Social Services (DSS) in the city or county where they live. The phone number of the local DSS office can be found in the phone book or at: http://www.dss.virginia.gov/localagency/index.html. Additional Information on the Medicaid and FAMIS programs can be found at: http://www.dmas.virginia.gov/

In addition to the Medicaid and FAMIS programs, the Department of Medical Assistance Services also administers the following health care programs for low income individuals:

State and Local Hospitalization Program— a cooperative effort between the state and local governments that is designed to provide coverage for inpatient and outpatient hospital care for low income individuals who are not Medicaid beneficiaries. Individuals can contact their local Department of Social Services offices to find out if they qualify for this program.
Indigent Health Care Trust Fund—a public/private partnership involving the state government and acute care hospitals which helps compensate hospitals for the uncompensated medical care they provide.
Uninsured Medical Catastrophe Fund—a program that provides limited funds to cover medical services for life-threatening conditions for uninsured individuals. This program is funded by individuals who designate a portion of their Virginia tax refund to the Fund.

15. Where can I get help with child care expenses?
Application for the Child Care Subsidy Program is made at the local department of social services in the locality in which you live. The address and telephone number of the local department in your area can be found in the telephone book or on the internet at: http://www.dss.virginia.gov/index.html Click on Local Offices on the left rail. Funds for the Subsidy Program are limited; there may be a waiting list for assistance in your locality.

16. How do I apply for vocational rehabilitation services?
By calling 1-800-552-5019, you can locate the Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS) office closest to you and schedule an appointment. If there are no offices close to you, one of the DRS counselors will contact you about setting up an appointment. If you are blind or have vision loss and need vocational rehabilitation services you may contact the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired at 1-800-622-2155 or www.vdbvi.org.

17. Am I eligible for financial assistance or food stamps?
The local Department of Social Services in your city or county can determine whether you meet eligibility requirements. Check the “blue pages” in your local telephone book, look for your city or county, and call the number listed for social services. Additional information is available on the Virginia Department of Social Services website at: www.dss.virginia.gov

18. What can I do about getting my court ordered child support?
If you would like assistance with the enforcement of a child support order, you can apply for services with the Virginia Department of Social Services Division of Child Support Enforcement (DCSE) or you may choose to obtain the services of a private attorney. If you are interested in applying for services with DCSE, please visit the DCSE website, http://www.dss.state.va.us/family/dcse.html, to print an application for services. There is also a list of District Offices and areas served on the website, so you can locate the office to which to mail your completed application.

19. Where can I find information about adoption and foster care?
Adoption information may be obtained by calling (800) DO-ADOPT. Foster Care information may also be obtained through this number or by calling any of the 120 local department of social services statewide. The Virginia Department of Social Services public website also contains information regarding both foster care and adoption at: http://www.dss.virginia.gov/family/children.html

20. What is Virginia doing to prepare for a pandemic flu outbreak?
In Virginia, pandemic flu planning efforts have been underway for several years. A draft pandemic flu response plan was developed in 2002 that gives Virginia a template for dealing with this issue.

Recently, the Virginia Department of Health has led efforts to create a Pandemic Flu Advisory Team comprising representation from the fields of public health, private industry, law enforcement, government and the private health care industry to lead the Commonwealth’s preparedness efforts. This team began meeting in 2005 to develop additional strategies and enhance Virginia’s pandemic flu response plans. Virginia is also working closely with national and other state partners to coordinate our efforts.

VDH is leading public information efforts to raise awareness of this issue and to help Virginians better understand the complex issues that will arise if pandemic flu becomes a reality. These include prioritizing who will receive scarce medications and vaccine supplies and how a pandemic will impact the daily activities we all take for granted such as having to close schools or cancel sporting events and large public gatherings during a pandemic.

More information is available at: http://www.vdh.state.va.us/PandemicFlu/index.asp

21. Where can I find information about teen smoking?
Visit the Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation website at www.vtsf.org to learn about teen outreach programs such as Y St. (www.ydouthink.org), which helps high school students choose not to smoke. For more information and statistics, visit the American Lung Association of Virginia website at www.lungusa.org/virginia and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website at www.cdc.gov.

Virginia’s Department of Health also operates the Tobacco Use Control Project (TUCP) to provide training, information, materials and other services to help Virginians choose and maintain tobacco-free lifestyles. TUCP works closely with coalitions, health districts, and partnering organizations to reduce youth tobacco use, increase cessation support, increase clean indoor air and eliminate disparities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Information on TUCP can be found at http://www.vahealth.org/cdpc/tobaccouse/index.asp or by calling (804) 864-7874.

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