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Social services asks for two positions to expand prevention services and reduce costly placements
Summary
Director Crystal Coleman requested two new positions (a Family Services Worker I and a Social Services Associate) with state reimbursement of about 33% each to address rising case complexity, prevention mandates and expensive out-of-home placements; Coleman said prevention work reduces long-term CSA/foster-care costs.
Crystal Coleman, director of Fauquier County Social Services, asked the board to approve two additional positions to strengthen prevention and foster-care supports.
Coleman said caseloads are growing in complexity and that new state guidance and prevention services require intensive casework and home visits. She said the state will reimburse about 33% of each position’s cost and argued that early intervention reduces higher-cost placements under the Children’s Services Act (CSA). "Successful casework also reduces foster care and reduce the need for costly CSA placements," Coleman said, noting one extreme residential placement can cost up to $2,000 per day.
The two requested roles are a Family Services Worker I (entry-level, requiring a four-year degree) to focus on foster care and child protective services and a Social Services Associate to take on administrative and logistical duties to free caseworkers for direct work. Coleman said the division has reduced foster-care counts in FY26 and needs staffing to sustain prevention gains; board members expressed support and asked for financial detail to include in the upcoming budget markup.
