The Virginia Department of Social Services is on East Main Street in downtown Richmond. A new state office is designed to give a voice to Virginia families and social workers who have had nowhere to turn with complaints about their local social services agencies â a problem that has plagued child welfare for at least four decades. Gov. Ralph Northam has appointed attorney Eric Reynolds as Virginiaâs first childrenâs ombudsman, more than a year after legislation establishing the office was signed into law. Reynolds started Friday and will serve a four-year term. He will report directly to the governor.