AG 2006 05 15 - Laserfiche WebLink

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MEMORANDUM TO: John Day, County Manager FROM: Jim Cook, Social Services Director DATE: 4-20-06 SUBJECT: Budget Revision Request for Two CSST's As agreed in yesterday's conference on the DSS budget request for FY07, I am submitting this request for a revision of the current year's budget, which will authorize the establishment of two temporary, full-time Community Social Services Technician positions utilizing funding from the $356,000 in Adoption Incentive Funding the Department has earned. The creation of positions requires BOC approval, and I am thus asking that this request be brought to the Board at its May work session. Backaround Simply put, the number of children in the care of the Department due to neglect or abuse has reached such a level that the Department is not able, with existing staff, to comply with Court orders requiring weekly visitation of children with their families. We are continuing to see a growing need for additional CSST staff to assist with visitation. The number of children in foster care continues to grow, for several reasons. One . being the increased severity and chronic of cases that we are involved, larger sibling groups in families, as well as a back log of cases in the court system due to a lack of District Court time/space to hear more cases OR cases are on appeal. As a result of a combination of these circumstances, the number of children in foster care has risen from an average of 270 in calendar year 2005 to a monthly average of 315 children for March 2006. During the month of March 2006, the agency had 332 children in foster care. The number in care in mid-April totaled 340. For each child that is in DSS custody, the District Court Judge is ordering, at least, weekly visitation between children and parents. Also, if a Termination of Parental Rights has occurred and the case is on appeal with the N.C. Appeals Court, the agency is also ordered to maintain visits between parents and children until the Appellate Court makes a decision. As the children in DSS custody has risen as well as the number of larger sibling groups, we are forced to place children out of county in homes operated by professional licensing agencies. Aiso, therapeutic homes are used for many of our children who have severe behavioral and/or emotional needs that cannot be safely dealt with by a regularly licensed foster parent. Most of these homes are outside of Cabarrus County, licensed by mental health organizations or other private licensing agencies. Currently, we have children placed in Concord, Charlotte, Mint Hill, Matthews, Huntersville, and Union County. As these particular circumstances occur in the county, the need for additional staff to deal with the court's orders and to meet the needs of the children grows. Our foster care workers have been carrying caseloads above the state standard due to the increase in children. As there Cabarrus County DSS 1303 South Cannol' Blvd Kannapolis, North Carolina 28083 Telephone Number: 704-920-1400 FAX Number: 704-920-1401 F-4-