Cynthia J. Steinhauser was named director of the Henrico Department of Social Services, effective Oct. 6. County Manager Virgil Hazelett made the announcement.

Steinhauser, who has been serving as an assistant director of Social Services, will succeed Jane D. Crawley, who was promoted Sept. 8 to deputy county manager for community services.

As director, Steinhauser will lead a department with 168 employees and a budget of $14.6 million for fiscal 2012-13. Social Services assists individuals and families in meeting their basic needs, increases their capacity to live independently and provides protection for elderly and disabled adults and abused and neglected children. The department’s programs include child and adult protective services, foster care, adoption, child day care and adult services. Social Services also administers benefits from such state and federal programs as Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.

A Henrico employee since 1998, Steinhauser served as manager of the human services division of Social Services before being promoted to assistant director. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and public administration from Radford University. Her professional affiliations include the Virginia Benefit Programs Organization, Virginia League of Social Services Executives and National Association of Counties.