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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: .tune 27, 2006 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. 5-g <br />SUBJECT: Contract Renewal with Caring Family Network for Emergency Placements for <br />Youth <br />DEPARTMENT: Social Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Caring Family Network Renewal <br />Contract <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Nancy Coston, 245-2802 <br />PURPOSE: To renew a contract with Caring Family Network for the provision of emergency <br />placements for Orange County children. <br />BACKGROUND: On July 25, 2005, County agencies received information that Sheaffer <br />House, a local program that had provided short-term residential services for youth was closing, <br />This program had historically provided services for many children served by Social Services. <br />The closing of Sheaffer House created a need to develop alternative services for the children <br />historically served there, Research into possible options resulted in a recommendation for a <br />contract with a private agency to provide emergency therapeutic faster care for children who <br />could not be served in traditional foster homes. In November 2005, a contract was signed <br />between Social Services and Caring Family Network far this service, a program already <br />operating successfully in Durham County, The first child received services several months <br />later. <br />Previously, the County provided funds ($165,000 annually) directly to Lutheran Family Services <br />far the operation of Sheaffer House. During October 2005, some of these funds were <br />transferred from the outside agency funds account to Social Services for the contract with <br />Caring Family Network as well as to pay for other needed placements and a contract with the <br />local mental health agency for access services for at-risk foster children. The County s annual <br />costs for these additional services are less than the total costs previously provided for Sheaffer <br />House. <br />Social Services is recommending continuation of this contract for 2006-2007, Since most of <br />this year has been spent developing the service, more services should be available during next <br />year. The contract pays a retainer fee of $10,000 per year for exclusive availability of each <br />home and the average daily costs of $80 plus the established board rate for each child, <br />Although this is an expensive service, the costs currently being charged by some of the <br />emergency shelters being used by Social Services have been over $150 per day. <br />