Children's Services Act

The Children's Services Act (CSA) became law on July 1, 1993. It is a Virginia law designed to help troubled youths and their families. State and local agencies, parents and private service providers work together to plan and provide services. This dramatic legislation makes communities, rather than separate agencies, responsible for managing and coordinating services to the at-risk youth population.
CSA WEBSITE
 
Intent of CSA
It is the intention of this law to create a collaborative system of services and funding that is child-centered, family-focused, and community-based when addressing the strengths and needs of troubled and at-risk youths and their families in the Commonwealth (Virginia Acts of the Assembly, Chapter 880, Section 2.5-745).

CSA Funding & Management
Each locality is given a portion of pool funds consolidated from eight former state funding streams. This is a partnership between state and local governments with each local government contributing funds at a rate determined to be equitable by the state.

Each locality has a Community Policy and Management Team (CPMT). The following agencies represented on the CPMT and are appointed by the City Council:
  • Manassas Department of Social Services
  • City of Manassas Public Schools
  • City of Manassas Police Department
  • Prince William County Juvenile Court Services Unit
  • Prince William County Community Services
  • Thirty-first District Juvenile Court
  • Prince William Health District
  • Parent Representatives
  • Private Provider of Services (Vendor)
Duties
CPMT is charged with developing policy and priorities to serve the community's "at risk" youth. Several categories of children are classified as eligible for CSA-related services, including but not limited to:
  • Children with emotional and/or behavioral problems, which have persisted over a period of time, are disabling, or that require services or resources that are beyond typical agency services
  • Children currently in or at risk of residential or day placement and children returning to the community from a residential placement
  • Children at risk of removal from home
  • Children that require placement for purposes of special education
  • Children in the custody of a local department of social services
The CPMT has the task of designing and implementing a system to coordinate and provide services to youth. The CPMT appointed members of the Family Assessment and Services Team (FAST) to staff individual cases, develop service plans, and for those children who are eligible, to authorize the expenditure of funds for the purchase of services. FAST members are case managers / service deliverers from the agencies represented on the CPMT.

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