VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

StepStone Family & Youth Services operated by Braley & Thompson
2701 Emerywood Parkway
Suite 102
Richmond, VA 23228
(804) 756-3561

Current Inspector: Dawn Espelage (540) 759-8852

Inspection Date: April 7, 2021

Complaint Related: No

Areas Reviewed:

22VAC40-131 ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION 22VAC40-131 PERSONNEL 22VAC40-131 PROGRAM STATEMENT 22VAC40-131 PROVIDER HOMES 22VAC40-131 CHILDREN'S SERVICES 22VAC40-131 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIFIC PROGRAMS 22VAC40-191 Background Checks for Child Welfare Agencies

Comments:

The agency reported 8 children in care, and 15 approved provider homes. The inspector emailed the associate executive director a list of items required to complete the inspection. The inspector reviewed 1 personnel record, 1 child record, and 3 provider home records. Background checks for 2 additional provider homes were reviewed. The agency's programs and service descriptions were reviewed. Two agency representatives were interviewed. An exit interview was conducted by telephone on 4/12/2021 at approximately 4:00 pm with the associate executive director and team leader to discuss preliminary inspection findings. Information gathered during the inspection determined non-compliance with applicable standards or law, and violations were documented on the violation notice issued to the agency. There were 4 citations for violation of the Standards for Child-Placing Agencies. Upon receipt of the Violation Notice, the licensee should develop a plan of correction to include the steps to correct non-compliance with the standard(s); measures to prevent re-occurrence of non-compliance; person(s) responsible for implementation and monitoring of preventative measure(s); and date by which noncompliance will be corrected. The licensee has five business days from receipt of the inspection documents to complete the section entitled "Plan of Correction", sign each page of the inspection documents and return to the Licensing Office. The licensee should retain a copy to be posted at the facility. Results of the inspection are subject to public disclosure and will be posted on the Virginia Department of Social Services public web site within five business days, regardless of whether or not the Plan of Correction is completed.

Violations:

Standard #:	22VAC40-131-110
Description:	Violation: Based on review of background checks provided for Foster Home (FH) FH4, the licensee failed to indicate date received. Findings: FH4 was approved by the licensee on 3/23/21. The out of state central registry findings provided for FH4 and Other Household Member (OHM) OHM1, fails to document date received.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	22VAC40-131-40-B
Description:	Violation: Based on review of the record for Foster Child (FC) FC1,the licensee's programs and service descriptions and interviews with Agency Representatives (AR) AR1 and AR2, the licensee failed to comply with its own policies and procedures. Findings: The quarterly progress review covering 11/13/20 to 2/11/21 documents FC1 is placed on Treatment Foster Care (TFC) level 3 with the licensee. During an interview with AR2, when asked what level FC1 was on, AR2 confirmed FC1 is on level 3 and level 3 requires weekly face to face contact. The licensee's programs and service descriptions documents, TFC level 3 requires weekly case management services. The contact notes provided for FC1 for the months of 12/2020, 1/2021 and 2/2021 documents only 2 face to face contacts with FC1.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	22VAC40-131-290-L-1
Description:	Violation: Based on review of the medical examinations completed for both applicants in Foster Home (FH) FH1, the licensee failed to ensure the examinations included the written examiner comments that addresses the applicant's mental and physical condition in relation to their ability to take care of a child. Findings: FH1 was approved by the licensee on 11/12/20. The medical examinations provided for review for both applicants in FH1 failed to document written examiner's comments that addresses both applicant's mental and physical condition in relation to their ability to take care of a child.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	22VAC40-131-290-L-2
Description:	Violation: Based on review of the medical examination provided for Applicant (A) A1, in FH1, the licensee failed to ensure the examination was no older than 13 months at the time of FH1's approval. Findings: The medical examination for Applicant (A) A1 in FH1 was completed on 6/16/17, which is beyond 13 months of FH1's 11/12/20 approval with the licensee.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.