AG 2004 03 15 - Laserfiche WebLink

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MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: DATE: SUB`TECT: `Tohn bay, County Manager ,Tim Cook, Social Services Director :3-2-04 Budget Amendment Request Attached are materials for a budget amendment re'quest that I am asking be considered by the Board of Commissioners at the next meeting at which it is possible to schedule this item for consideration. This amendment request provides for funding we hope will be sufficient to meet the requirements for both foster care and a;cloption assistance payments we will have to make during the balance of the current fiscal year. This will have to be considered by the Board as revenues are affected. Additionally, the magnitude of the amendment request serves to highlight a significant need which has emerged. Backqround The Department currently has in excess of 250 children who have had to be placed in its custody by the ~Tuvenile Court. These are children the Court has had to place in the Department's care because of a6u~e, neglect, dependency, or delinquent behavior. This is an unprecedented number, and represents an increase that has occurred primarily in the current fiscal year. For all of F¥03, the Department had an average of 17.5 children per month Jn care. Thus far during F¥04, the monthly average has been 240 children. Simply put, for several reasons, substantially more children are entering our care then we are able to return to their families or to place in other permanent arrangements. Among the several factors that have contributed to this increase in the number of children in care are these: 1) While reports of abuse and neglect have not risen significantly, the reports we have received in this period reflect proportionally Cabarrus County DSS 1303 South Cannon Blvd Kannapolis, North Carolina 28083 Telephone Number: 704-920-1400 FAX Number: 704-920-1401