What is CSA?

Family Guide to CSA

The Children’s Services Act is a law, enacted in 1993, that provides funding and multi-disciplinary planning to help meet the needs of children and families in Virginia. The Family Guide to CSA provides parents and families information on eligibility for CSA and other aspects of the CSA process. To read the guide please click here


FAQ for Families

The CSA FAQ for Families provides parents and families with a brief overview of the key elements of the CSA process. Please follow this link to read the FAQ.


Frequently Used Acronyms

A reference list of acronyms frequently utilized in CSA can be found here.

CSA at the Local Level

CSA is a “State Supervised, Locally Administered” system. This means funding for CSA is a shared responsibility of State and Local governments, and while there are State laws and policies that must be followed, the “work” of CSA occurs at the local level.


For more information on your local CSA team, please contact your local CSA office. You can find their contact information by searching for the CSA Coordinator Role under Local Government Contacts.

Where can I go for help?

Your local CSA Office is the best place to request assistance with the CSA process. You can find their contact information by searching for the CSA Coordinator Role under Local Government Contacts.

Virginia Family Network
The Virginia Family Network (VFN) is a statewide network of families who support, educate, and empower other families with children and youth with mental health needs while also promoting family-driven and youth-guided policy throughout the child-serving systems.

For more information click here: Virginia Family Network

Cameron K. Gallagher Mental Health Resource Center
The Cameron K. Gallagher Mental Health Resource Center, a program of the Virginia Treatment Center for Children, is an innovative resource for families of children with mental, emotional or behavioral health needs. They assist families and providers in understanding the mental health services available for children and adolescents and link them to appropriate information and care.

For more about their services click here: CKG Mental Health Resource Center

Youth MOVE Virginia
Youth MOVE Virginia is a platform for young people to share their story and inspire others. It also functions as Virginia’s Statewide Youth Network and voice for young people with systems experience. In addition to the mental health system, Youth MOVE VA is open to youth and young adults who have experience in the child welfare, education or juvenile justice systems, including foster care and substance use/recovery services.

To access their webpage click here: Youth MOVE Virginia

CPMT and FAPT

At the local level, there are two different Children’s Services Act (CSA) teams. These are the Community Policy Management Team (CPMT) and the Family Assessment and Planning Team (FAPT).

What is the Community Policy Management Team (CPMT)?

The two primary roles of the CPMT are to manage the CSA funds and establish local CSA policies and procedures. The team consists of directors from DSS, schools, CSU, and the CSB. CPMT also has a parent representative, a representative from the health department, and a service provider.

What is the Family Assessment and Planning Team (FAPT)?

The FAPT is the multi-disciplinary process responsible for determining eligibility for CSA, exploring the strengths and needs of individual children and families, and recommending services. Together with the child and family, the FAPT prepares an individual family service plan (IFSP). FAPT members include representatives from DSS, schools, CSU, CSB, and a parent representative. FAPT may also include other members such as the health department or a service provider.

CSA Responsibilities to Families

CSA Believes…

• All families have strengths
• Families are the experts on themselves
• Families deserve to be treated with dignity and respect
• Families can, when supported, make well-informed decisions about keeping their children safe
• Outcomes improve when families are involved in decision-making
• A team is often more capable of creative and high-quality decision-making than an individual

CSA Rights and Responsibilities to Families

• You have the right to receive information on the local CSA process
• Your Case Manager is responsible for assisting you throughout the FAPT process
• You have a right to understand the information that you receive and have it delivered in your preferred language
• You have the right to review the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) and to agree or disagree in writing with the identified services. All FAPT services are voluntary unless ordered by the court.
• You have the right to receive a copy of your IFSP as soon as possible following the meeting
• You have the opportunity to participate in all FAPT meetings. You have the right to participate and be present for the entire meeting. You have the opportunity to discuss your child and family's situation as well as participate in decisions that apply to you and your family
• You have the right to appeal IFSP decisions according to local policy.

Eligibility for CSA

Who is eligible for CSA?

Eligibility for CSA is outlined in the Code of Virginia (CSA Eligibility).

Services through CSA may be available to a child who meets at least one of the following descriptions:

§2.2-5212. Eligibility for state pool of funds.

A. In order to be eligible for funding for services through the state pool of funds, a child, or family with a child, shall meet one or more of the criteria specified in subdivisions 1 through 4 and shall be determined through the use of a uniform assessment instrument and process and by policies of the community policy and management team to have access to these funds.

1. The child or child has emotional or behavior problems that:

a. Have persisted over a significant period of time or, though only in evidence for a short period of time, are of such a critical nature that intervention is warranted;

b. Are significantly disabling and are present in several community settings, such as at home, in school or with peers; and

c. Require services or resources that are unavailable or inaccessible, or that are beyond the normal agency services or routine collaborative processes across agencies, or require coordinated interventions by at least two agencies.

2. The child or child has emotional or behavior problems, or both, and currently is in, or is at imminent risk of entering, purchased residential care. In addition, the child or child requires services or resources that are beyond normal agency services or routine collaborative processes across agencies, and requires coordinated services by at least two agencies.

3. The child or child requires placement for purposes of special education in approved private school educational programs or for transitional services as set forth in subdivision B 6 of §2.2-5211.

4. The child or child requires foster care services as defined in §63.2-905.

B. For purposes of determining eligibility for the state pool of funds, "child" or "child" means (i) a person younger than 18 years of age or (ii) any individual through 21 years of age who is otherwise eligible for mandated services of the participating state agencies including special education and foster care services.

How can I find out if my child is eligible?

Please call your local CSA Coordinator with question about CSA eligibility. You can find their contact information by searching for the CSA Coordinator Role under Local Government Contacts.