Membership
Elevate your practice.
Connect with your community. Advance your career.
Have a real voice statewide. Vote on decisions, lead in district and committee roles, take part in membership meetings, help shape practice and legislation, and stay informed through Alliance updates and publications. Your voice helps move better practice forward across Virginia.
Who can join?
Active membership is open to any person who functions as a family services practitioner—or a comparable position—within a Virginia public local social services agency.
Support, training, and advocacy in one place
- Professional development: Access to exclusive training, workshops, and resources.
- Advocacy & influence: Be part of a collective voice influencing policy, procedures and legislation.
- Networking & community: Directly engage with your peers on the local, regional and state levels.
- Exclusive resources: Access to the document library, member-only content.
- Conference discounts: Special pricing for annual conferences and other events.
- Leadership opportunities: Chance to serve on state-level committees, regional district committees or the board of directors.
- Member directory: Connect directly with other members.
Agency and individual memberships
Agencies may pay for one or more memberships and assign them to designated representatives (individual practitioners). Individuals may also opt for an individual membership.
VAFSP also recognizes:
- Honorary membership (one‑year): for individuals who have provided outstanding service to the advancement of family services practitioners or are past officers no longer eligible for active membership
- Contributing membership: for individuals wishing to contribute above standard dues
Dues are assessed annually (July 1–June 30) and set by the VAFSP Executive Committee. Agencies may purchase memberships based on local department size.
Individual membership dues are set annually; current rate is $25/year.
Annual dues cover July 1 through June 30 and are due and payable in advance by June 30. The Treasurer notifies each local department annually and in writing of the assessed dues.
Alliance class level (filled positions*) | Agency dues |
|---|---|
Class I (1–10) | $50 |
Class II (11–20) | $100 |
Class III (21–80) | $150 |
Class IV (81–160) | $300 |
Class V (161–360) | $750 |
Class VI (360+) | $1,450 |
*Per the annual January LETS report.
Join now
Apply for membership with your name, role, and agency details. If accepted, you’ll receive a welcome packet with meeting dates, committee sign-ups, and ways to get involved.
Already a member?
Head to the member area to access publications, committee updates, and event materials. Need to renew? Renew your membership for the upcoming term.
What members are saying
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Frequently asked questions
The Alliance is unlike any other social work association. It is specifically designed for the work of Local Department of Social Services Family Services Specialists. We exist to provide peer-to-peer support among the 120 LDSS across Virginia. We propose and support legislation that improves and benefits Virginia’s public welfare system and its Family Services Practitioners. We create conferences with training and knowledge specific to this role. No other professional association is built to meet the needs and concerns of Family Services Practitioners the way we are.
The Virginia Alliance of Social Work Practitioners was formed in April 1989. However, “Social Worker” is a legally protected title, and not every employee at a Local Department of Social Services holds a social work degree. Many professionals in these roles come from various human services backgrounds. The current title for our role at LDSS is “Family Services Practitioner.” In July 2025, members held a vote and agreed to rename the organization the Virginia Alliance of Family Services Practitioners, also known as the Alliance.
The Alliance is a professional association with dues. The majority of Local Departments of Social Services will cover your membership. Speak with your direct supervisor for approval to join. Most LDSS agencies submit a one-time payment for the current year on behalf of their staff.
If your locality does not cover membership or you prefer to manage it individually, you can submit the current year’s application through our website. Click on “Membership” to get started. Once payment is confirmed, you will receive an electronic invitation to create your profile on our website and gain access to everything we are currently doing, upcoming engagements, and past recorded events.
We do a lot, including:
- Meet regularly through our committees
- Monitor legislative activity
- Advocate for our professional needs
- Offer peer-to-peer support across the state of Virginia
- Host conferences specific to our profession
- Serve as an affiliate to the Virginia League of Social Services Executives (VLSSE)