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Looking for something cost effective as they head into budget season, officials from Prince Edward and Buckingham counties are trying out a pilot program of sorts. Instead of each county hiring their own Children’s Services Act Coordinator (CSA), the two governments will share one this year, splitting the cost. 

First, a bit of background. The Children’s Services Act (CSA) was passed in 1993 with the idea that in each local area, a CSA coordinator would help children and families get the services and support they need by working with the multiple local, regional and state agencies. The children involved here are those at risk of entering or in foster care, those with serious educational disabilities or with emotional or behavioral problems. In Prince Edward County, Director of Finance Cheryl Stimpson has also served as CSA Coordinator since 2015. In July of 2024, Lelia Cristo from the Department of Social Services took over the CSA duties, so that Stimpson could focus on her role as Director of Finance for Prince Edward. 

Over the last six months, Prince Edward and Buckingham officials came to a conclusion. First, staff in both counties determined that neither one needed a full-time dedicated staff member as CSA Coordinator. The reason? Both groups believe there aren’t enough children who need or use the program, to justify hiring a full-time staffer. However, at the same time, even though it’s not enough to hire a dedicated full-time staffer, the responsibilities are too much for one person to cover, in addition to their other assigned duties. And so, Prince Edward Administrator Doug Stanley and Buckingham Administrator Karl Carter came up with a solution: hiring one person to handle the job for both counties. That is allowed, as the state law gives governments the choice of where to “house” or locate their coordinator’s office. 

Breaking down the Prince Edward deal 

“It has been determined that the best course of action for both counties, rather than each one hiring a part-time staff member to complete the CSA Coordinator duties, or having a full-time staff member split duties between CSA Coordinator responsibilities and another job, it would be best for the two counties to enter into a Shared CSA Coordinator Services Agreement,” Stanley told the Prince Edward supervisors during their Dec. 10 meeting. 

The deal is simple. Buckingham County will actually hire the coordinator and this person will be considered their employee. However, Prince Edward will reimburse Buckingham for 40% of the position’s total cost, including salary and benefits. Prince Edward will pay their portion in two installments, one in January and one in July. That’s being tested for 2025 as a pilot program of sorts, with the deal being re-evaluated each year, as far as how much Prince Edward needs to pay. We don’t have a salary estimate yet, as the position is currently vacant and has not yet been advertised. The goal is to get someone hired by the end of February at the latest. 

“Buckingham has a little bit bigger program,” Stanley said, explaining why it’s not an even 50-50 split between the two counties. He emphasized that the cost split will be revisited each year. “We’re trying this as an option.” 

Prince Edward supervisors unanimously agreed to the proposal.