That the Board of Supervisors approves a budget amendment and appropriation to reflect increased rate of expenditures and associated state funding for the Children’s Services Act (CSA) line items that reflect payments for the shelter and care of, and services to, eligible children and families of eligible children.  The increased funds reflect mid-year budget adjustments based upon the level of program activity within Spotsylvania County.  These line items are funded with a mix of state and local funds, the specific reimbursement rate determined by the category of expenditure being made.  Reimbursement rates vary from 77/23 state/local to 43/57 state/local.  The most commonly accessed category is reimbursed at 54/46 state/local.

CSA is administered through the Department of Social Services but oversight is through the Spotsylvania Community Policy Management Team (CPMT).  It exists to ensure timely and appropriate access to services to youth with emotional or behavioral problems, as well as to families when those services support the therapeutic needs of the child, and to ensure those services are delivered in the least restrictive environment possible while maintaining good stewardship of state and local resources.  CSA continues a trend of serving an increasing number of Spotsylvania youth and those youth are frequently presenting with conditions requiring more intensive, and expensive, interventions and services.  In FY 2018 the program served 384 children, a 20% increase over FY 2017.  The primary category of expenditure is Individual Education Plan (IEP)-driven alternative private day placements for children with special emotional or developmental needs that cannot be appropriately or adequately met within the Spotsylvania County Schools.  As of March 28, 2019 the program had served 304 children, 114 of whom were in alternative day placements.  While the 114 children in alternative day placement represent only 37.5% of children served, alternative day placements are projected to be between 55% and 57% of expenditures. Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) requires these children be appropriately served.

$2,400,000 increase in appropriation.  The increase is partially offset by an increase of $1,134,000 in state revenue for a net local fiscal impact of $966,000.  This is not drastically different than the ~$900,000 local impact projected as part of the mid-year financial report.