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Floyd DSS explains foster care payments and VMAT assessments as caseloads remain low
Summary
Floyd County Department of Social Services officials outlined how foster maintenance is calculated, explained the Virginia Enhanced Maintenance Assessment Tool (VMAT) used to set additional maintenance payments, and reported a low number of children in foster care.
Floyd County Department of Social Services staff briefed the Board on how foster care maintenance payments are calculated and explained the Virginia Enhanced Maintenance Assessment Tool (VMAT) used to determine additional monthly funds for children with higher needs.
David Holt, Services Supervisor for Foster Care and Adult Protective Services, described the VMAT process: children initially receive a base assessment rate for the first 60 days while staff collect reports and information, then trained assessors score each child across categories (social/emotional, behavioral/developmental, physical/medical and personal care). The VMAT results determine an additional maintenance payment that can range from zero for infants up to levels above the base rate for children with more severe needs. Assessments are reissued periodically; foster parents can appeal results.
County staff said the county has one child in congregate care, two in the fostering‑futures program (age 18+), and roughly a dozen in foster homes, with two currently in trial home placements with parents. The local unit reported it has reduced the number of children in congregate care over time, and staff credited local caseworkers for sustained prevention efforts in Child Protective Services.
Holt described therapeutic foster care placements — run by licensed child‑placing agencies — as more expensive because they include daily case management fees (reported ranges $150–$275 per day), and county staff said they prefer to place children in local foster homes when appropriate to avoid higher costs unless therapeutic supports are necessary.
Board members asked about volumes and trends; staff said current foster counts are among the lowest in recent memory (approximately 12–15 children in care including older transition‑age youth) but cautioned that case complexity is increasing and mandates from the Virginia Department of Social Services can increase per‑case time demands.
Ending: Supervisors praised staff for keeping foster counts low while noting the need for continued prevention services and monitoring of program costs.
