Children's Services

The Children's Services Act for At-Risk Youth and Families (CSA) is a law enacted in 1993 that establishes funding for services for at-risk youth and their families. The state funds, combined with local community funds, are managed by local interagency teams who plan and oversee services to youth.

Throughout Virginia, teams known as the Family Assessment and Planning Team (FAPT) and the Community Policy and Management Team (CPMT) implement the Children's Services Act as specified by the code of Virginia.

The Children's Services Act (CSA) will ensure that families and children will participate in services that recognize their strengths, meet their needs, and develop happy, healthy, productive citizens who will emerge as contributing members of the community. Whenever possible, children should not have to leave their family or community to receive services.

The FAPT and CPMT teams, working through the CSA process,  will assist at-risk children and their families in providing services that are:

• Child-centered
• Collaborative and culturally-competent
• Community-based
• Family-focused
• Needs-oriented/outcome-based
• Strength-based

A child may be eligible for services that may be funded through CSA if they meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Requires educational services in an alternate setting as determined by an IEP
• Has serious emotional or behavioral concerns
• Is at risk of a more restrictive out-of-home placement
• Receives foster care services
• Receives services to prevent foster care placement
• Is under the supervision of the Court or Department of Juvenile Justice