2006 NS Contract - Renewal with Caring Family Network for Emergency Placements for Youth

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: June 27, 2006 Action Agenda Item No. SUBJECT: Contract Renewal with Caring Family Network for Emergency Placements for Youth DEPARTMENT: Social Services PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No ATTACHMENT(S): Caring Family Network Renewal Contract INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy Coston, 245-2802 PURPOSE: To renew a contract with Caring Family Network for the provision of emergency placements for Orange County children. BACKGROUND: On July 25, 2005, County agencies received information that Sheaffer House, a local program that had provided short-term residential services for youth was closing. This program had historically provided services for many children served by Social Services. The closing of Sheaffer House created a need to develop alternative services for the children historically served there. Research into possible options resulted in a recommendation for a contract with a private agency to provide emergency therapeutic foster care for children who could not be served in traditional foster homes. In November 2005, a contract was signed between Social Services and Caring Family Network for this service, a program already operating successfully in Durham County. The first child received services several months later. Previously, the County provided funds ($165,000 annually) directly to Lutheran Family Services for the operation of Sheaffer House. During October 2005, some of these funds were transferred from the outside agency funds account to Social Services for the contract with Caring Family Network as well as to pay for other needed placements and a contract with the local mental health agency for access services for at-risk foster children. The County's annual costs for these additional services are less than the total costs previously provided for Sheaffer House. Social. Services is recommending continuation of this contract for 2006-2007. Since most of this year has been spent developing the service, more services should be available during next year. The contract pays a retainer fee of $10,000 per year for exclusive availability of each home and the average daily costs of $80 plus the established board rate for each child. Although this is an expensive service, the costs currently being charged by some of the emergency shelters being used by Social Services have been over $150 per day.