Agenda - 10-03-2005-5o - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: October 3, 2005 Action Agenda Item No. .5- D SUBJECT: Approval of Plan to Replace Services Previously Offered by Sheaffer House DEPARTMENT: Social Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): Caring Family Network Contract OPC/DSS Contract INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy Goston, ext 2802 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-2000 PURPOSE: To receive information about the community's plans far serving children with emergency placement needs and to consider a request to transfer the funds appropriated in the otatside agency budget for Sheaffer House to the Social Services budget, These plans reflect the agencies' intent to ensure that services are comprehensive, family-based and provided in their respective local communities, BACKGROUND: On July 25, 2005, county agencies received information that Sheaffer House, a local program that provides short-term residential services for youth would be closing, This program, operated by Lutheran Family Services, has had several locations throughout the years but most recently had been located in Chapel Hill, During last year, the program provided services to approximately thirty children who stayed at the program for up to 90 days each. All children who stayed at Sheaffer House were referred by either the Department of Social Services or by the NC Department of Juvenile Justice/Delinquency Prevention. In June, agencies were informed that Sheaffer House had mold that needed to be abated and that the abatement would require that the program close temporarily, Social Services made arrangements to relocate the children who were being served at the home, The original estimate was that the abatement work would require 2-3 weeks but as the work began other issues were discovered at the home. A crack in the foundation was discovered which would have required considerable costly repairs and at that time Lutheran Family Services decided to close the home permanently, County agencies were informed of this decision on July 25, 2005, Sheaffer House had been providing a very valuable service to families in Orange County, By providing services locally, the program had allowed children to remain in contact with their families and their school systems. The program often provided services to prevent detention or foster care for children who needed short-term intervention, It also provided immediate services when children were waiting for other services such as those provided by mental health,