The Scioto County Children Services Board met for the first time since Scioto County Commissioners stripped them of their administrative power and moved the agency’s control under the wing of Scioto County Job and Family Services.
It was revealed that the agency was $121,000 behind in paying the boarding costs with third-party foster-care provider NECCO but that bill had now been paid. The agency
Board Chair Rodney Barnett said he was not sure where the transition of the agency stood and the moment.
Ciraso Says Transition Seems To Work
Board member Pat Ciraso said she didn’t know either but wanted to speak on the matter. “I’ve done a little bit of research, and I have had some concerns, so I did some checking. I am for the transition based on several factors.” She said she’d contacted Miami County Children Services and that agency had also transitioned from board control to JFS control back in 2019. “I talked with the agency to find out what was good and what was bad. What she told me was that it had been a positive experience. It had become a cost-savings without termination of any CPS staff. They have had no complaints from foster parents and the adoptions have been better. They believe the merger is successful.” She said the only problem reported by Miami County was negative publicity at the time of the transition.
Johnson Supports Change
Board member, and former Portsmouth Mayor, Kevin E. Johnson said he also supported the transition. “I believe there’s going to be a lot of growing pains, but I see the commissioners and JFS being able to move more expeditiously. I see this as being a positive move with business being able to conducted effectively.”
Johnson said the board only meets once a month, while the commissioners meet on a weekly basis. He also pointed out that when the board needed approval for financial matters, they had to take it to the commissioners for a vote, anyway. “Now, they can handle it right there. I believe this can be a positive for the children of our county. There has to be a reason why 77 out of 88 counties in the State of Ohio have made this transition.”
Oliver Not Sure Move Was Legal
Board Member Darren Oliver said it was not so much the decision to change the structure but the way the commissioners went about it that he objected to. “The way it was handled wasn’t right. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t legal. Until they back up and go about it the right way, I will not vote for it.”
Rodney Barnett said he had considered the matter for several days. “It has been a difficult time for me personally.” He said that in the past five years there have been 18 different board members. “The stability has not really been there. Two directors and two interim directors.” He said the number of kids in foster care had increased 70% in the past two years. Barnett said the source of the financial problems was the boarding cost for the children in care. “It wasn’t administrative problems. It wasn’t the board’s problem. It wasn’t mismanagement by any means.”
Barnett Not Aware Of Many Problems
Barnett said the board had only been made aware of the tremendous financial problem facing the agency in recent months. “We had our own way of thinking on how we were going to address is. Instead of running to our taxpayers as one of our first options, I wanted to make it our last. Let’s see what we can do to bring in revenue and lower the problems we are faced with.”
Barnett said board member Melissa Bennet brought to his attention the number of children who had exceeded the 12 out of 22 months in foster care standard and who should have been placed in permanent homes. “Quite honestly, I didn’t even know what that was, the 22-month rule.” Howard said he had been shocked to learn there was no tracking system in place to track which children were eligible for adoption. He said he was still unsure if there was one in place.
He said Pat Ciraso and Donna Cunningham had taken an active role in applying for grant funding. He said they had worked up a financial action plan that was accepted by the board’s finance committee. “Only to hear later that it was a good plan that couldn’t be implemented fast enough. It was very hard to digest. We heard that six days after. This board did not sit back on our hands. But we were still in a financial problem.”
Bennett Takes Decision Personally
Melissa Bennett complained that the board had wasted its time coming up with a financial action plan, only to be told a week later that the agency would be restructured. “I take it personally. I know I received many phone calls from commissioners, foster parents, and employees concerned about what was going on. It’s like the rug was just pulled out from underneath. We were going to work on this.” Bennett also complained that when she first inquired last fall about how many kids had been in the system for more than 22 months, it took three months to get the information. When she presented the number to the board, she said she was upset that no one took the matter seriously. “It’s frustrating to me that we’re not given the time after we’ve identified areas to work on. It’s hard to swallow.” She wondered if JFS head Tammy Morton approved of the plan. “I wouldn’t know her if she were in this room. I think we should have had more time.”
Barnett questioned if the public would be able to address the commissioners on the matter and how they would know when the meeting was. (Commissioners accept questions from the public in person and via social media each meeting and the agenda is posted at the time of the meeting. The Commissioners also live stream every meeting from their Facebook page.) Barnett said he was unaware as to where the agenda was posted.
Johnson Moves to Accept
Kevin E. Johnson made the motion that the board vote on whether to accept the restructuring. “If we can do that at this meeting, it’s going to help them with what they want to do. It’s going to happen regardless.”
Pat Ciraso seconded the motion. “Based on what has happened at other agencies who have merged, it has been successful. I want to make it clear that I’m not jumping up and down with joy, but I believe for the agency and the children involved… it’s been very beneficial. I feel like we need to move forward.”
The motion to accept the vote carried by a vote of four to three.
