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4 <br /> Mr. Lynch said he would prefer to schedule a longer work session. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox said it would be okay with him to have a longer work session. <br /> <br /> Mr. Schilling said it would be helpful if the work sessions start on time, and said <br />i t will be worth it if two, three or four work sessions are needed to get this right. <br /> <br /> Mr. Nancy O'Brien, a member of the Task Force, said it would be helpful to share <br />Councilors' questions with the Task Force. <br /> <br />REPORT <br />: COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES ACT <br /> <br /> Mr. O' Connell said that this report is being given in response to several questions <br />from Councilors about the Comprehensive Services Act and financial obligations of the <br />state. <br /> <br /> Mr. Robert Cox, Director of Social Services, explained that the Commission on <br />Child ren and Families oversees the Comprehensive Services Act program (CSA) which <br />provides services to at - risk youth, including foster and residential treatment. He said <br />CSA did not create new mandates, but established a single funding stream and funding <br />formu la. Mr. Cox said the caseloads and costs have increased each year, and the needs <br />are increasingly severe. He said a cost containment subcommittee has been studying the <br />issue and recommends increasing prevention efforts to keep children out of foster care . <br />He said two additional foster care workers are included in next year's budget. He said <br />support for other early prevention program is recommended by the cost containment <br />subcommittee as well as additional CSA staff. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati asked why there are mo re cases in Charlottesville than in Albemarle <br />County. <br /> <br /> Mr. Robert Cox said that Charlottesville and Albemarle County both have high <br />rates of children needing services, mostly foster care, though Charlottesville is higher. <br />He said there is no definitive i nformation about why there are more foster care cases, but <br />the consensus is that it may be the community's standards or culture. He said the <br />Charlottesville and Albemarle County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court judge does <br />not hesitate to put children in foster care. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati said the unregulated vendor costs are troubling and asked if criteria <br />could be set or if the rates can be regulated. <br /> <br /> Mr. Robert Cox said that most vendors do really good work, but it is an expensive <br />population to serve. H e said prior to CSA rates were regulated. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Mr. Caravati, Mr. Robert Cox said CSA does not <br />pay for in - house services, except for services provided by the Community Attention <br />Home. <br /> <br /> Ms. Richards asked if reduction of Juvenile Crime Control funds affects <br />Charlottesville disproportionately. <br /> <br /> Mr. Robert Cox said the cut in funding was statewide. <br /> <br /> Ms. Richards recommended that we take advantage of Title 4 funds for the two <br />foster care workers. <br /> <br /> Mr. Robert Cox said an attempt is being made to fund the match required for <br />these positions within the department's level funded budget. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said dealing with the family component is critical. He said a <br />significant cost is dealing with emotionally disturbed children and asked if t his can be <br />addressed with family counseling. <br /> <br />