On September 9, the State Executive Council for Children’s Services (SEC) approved the release of two proposed policies for public comment. The public comment period began Monday, September 13, and closes Friday, November 12 at 5pm.
The proposed policy revisions result from a goal adopted in the SEC’s 2019 strategic plan of reviewing CSA policies to ensure alignment with initiatives in partner agencies. The Office of Children’s Services has convened a workgroup as part of this effort and is in the process of examining and updating CSA policies accordingly. VACo is part of this workgroup.
Proposed Policy 3.2, Family Assessment and Planning Team, is available at this link. The revisions to the policy are intended to provide additional detail regarding the process by which multidisciplinary teams may be established by local CSA programs as alternatives to Family Assessment and Planning Teams.
Proposed Policy 3.3, Family Engagement, is available at this link. This proposal is a more significant revision, emphasizing a broad concept of family, setting out considerations for local programs in ensuring family and youth involvement, and requiring the Office of Children’s Services to provide training and technical assistance to local programs in improving family engagement.
Comments will be accepted through the Policy Public Comments Form on the CSA website (https://www.csa.virginia.gov/), via email to csa.office@csa.virginia.gov (commenters are requested to use “Public Comment” in the subject line, along with the name of the policy), or via U.S. Mail or alternate courier service to Office of Children’s Services, 1604 Santa Rosa Road, Suite 137, Richmond, VA 23229, ATTN: Public Comment.
VACo Contact: Katie Boyle