What is CSA?

The Children’s Services Act is a Virginia law designed to help troubled and at-risk youth and their families. Passed in 1992 by the Virginia General Assembly, the Act is intended to improve efforts to meet the needs of families with children and youth who have, or are at risk of having, serious emotional or behavioral difficulties. State and local human service agencies, parents and private service providers work together to plan and provide services. In each community, local teams decide how this will be accomplished.  In Frederick County, these teams are the Family Assessment & Planning Team (FAPT) and/or approved alternative multidisciplinary team (MDT), and the Community Policy and Management Team (CPMT).

 What is a System of Care?

A System of Care (SOC) model is a framework designed to meet the needs of at-risk youth and their families coping with serious behavioral challenges in a collaborative way.  Emerging in the 1980’s, it has become a standard of care and practice in states and communities across the country.  The values and principles at the center of the SOC practice model is shown to improve outcomes while reducing the use of more costly and restrictive placements.  Its core philosophy focuses on a system that is child centered, family focused, and community based.  In Virginia, the Children’s Services Act provides the framework to promote these core concepts in our service delivery system.

Intent and Purpose

Frederick County believes that families and home communities provide the best environments for raising children. As a community we will pursue and encourage collaborative activities that will ensure the provision of child-centered, family-focused, strength-based and community-based services. Our goal is to preserve families and provide appropriate services while protecting the welfare of children and maintaining safety of the public.