Welcome to the Office of Background Investigations (OBI). We help protect children and vulnerable individuals across Virginia by completing criminal fingerprint checks and central registry searches. OBI partners with community agencies, state programs, and independent entities to provide confidential eligibility results for those seeking to work with or volunteer with children.
OBI completes Central Registry searches to identify founded child abuse or neglect. This category includes DBHDS providers and others who submit only Central Registry search requests through OBI as well as VDSS‑licensed CRF providers.
OBI partners with VDSS‑licensed public and private Child Placing Agencies by completing Criminal Fingerprint checks & Central Registry searches required for foster and adoptive families and the household members who support them.
OBI completes Criminal Fingerprint checks and Central Registry searches for child day programs, child day centers, family day homes, family day systems, certified preschools, and exempt out‑of‑school time programs licensed or exempt under VDOE.
Visit the Resource Hub for help using the OBI Provider Portal, fingerprinting questions, and other helpful information.
OBI is staffed Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Communication via email is preferred. Messages may be left on the voicemail at other times and calls will be returned within two (2) business days.
| Unit | General Information |
|---|---|
| Criminal Background Unit |
Phone: 804-726-7884 Email: backgrounds@dss.virginia.gov Fax: 804-726-7095 |
| Central Registry Search Unit |
Phone: 804-726-7549 Email: crs_operations@dss.virginia.gov Fax: 804-726-7095 |
| Mailing Address |
Virginia Department of Social Services |
For additional resources, please visit the links below:
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