Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Foster Care Payment Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
CPMT flags payment-before-approval in foster care case, signals potential policy change
Summary
Tazewell County CPMT approved foster-care case funding in a closed session but raised concerns after members learned a June invoice was paid before required FAPT/CPMT approval; staff and an OCS consultant agreed policy language and emergency-approval processes need review ahead of an August meeting.
Tazewell County’s Community Policy and Management Team (CPMT) approved funding for foster care and related cases in a closed session on July 24, 2023, but members spent substantial time addressing a procedural problem in one matter: a June invoice for case 11100592 was paid before the family assessment and planning team (FAPT) and CPMT had completed required approvals.
Melinda Smith moved to approve the closed-session cases and Ryan Thomas seconded; the motion was approved by the CPMT. The CPMT had earlier certified the closed meeting under Virginia law (Code of Virginia §§ 2.2-3711 and 2.2-3712) by an 8–0 recorded vote.
During discussion of case 11100592, CPMT Chair David Taylor and attendees reviewed an email about the case that raised three specific questions: which months were approved for service, whether the case required FAPT approval, and why a June payment proceeded before an emergency email poll or FAPT review. Courtney Sexton, an OCS program consultant attending the meeting, agreed that the 14-day window for reviewing emergency placements had passed. FAPT subsequently changed the service plan to approve services for July and August.
Sheri Hale, FAPT chair, told members she believed the June invoice had already been paid and noted that if June is not eligible for CSA pool funding a refund would need to be issued. CPMT members discussed the risk of using CSA pool funds without written CPMT approval and examined guidance from the Office of Children’s Services (OCS) and local CSA policy.
The group reviewed the local list of CPMT-authorized exceptions to FAPT/MDT approval that current guidance lists as: ongoing regular family foster care payments, clothing, daycare not exceeding $500 per month, and one-time-only expenses not exceeding $250. Several members said that using CSA state pool funds for some one-time payments without explicit CPMT approval may be inappropriate and could constitute a programmatic risk.
David Taylor directed members to review the CSA User Guide pages and the Tazewell County local CSA Policies and Procedures manual and come prepared to discuss clarifications or amendments at the Aug. 28, 2023 CPMT meeting. The meeting returned to open session and adjourned at 11:30 a.m.
Authorities referenced in the discussion included the Office of Children’s Services guidance on kinship care and Tazewell County’s local CSA policy; the CPMT certified the closed meeting under Virginia FOIA statutes §§ 2.2-3711 and 2.2-3712.
Next steps: CPMT members were asked to review the cited guidance and be prepared to consider specific policy language clarifications at the August meeting.
