The Scioto County Children Services Board is facing a crisis. The agency has 400 kids in care, just 24 foster families in the county, and is already facing a $2 million shortfall for 2022.
Scioto County Commissioners Chairman Scottie Powell met with the Children Services Board on Monday to discuss the agency’s financial crisis. Powell said the board and SCCS Director Jason Mantell are not to blame for the problems. “Anytime you increase the population of children you care for from roughly 200 to almost 400 in the span of two years, it’s a kick. It hurts. Quite honestly, the funding mechanism isn’t there to provide.”
Powell said the board was struggling with the funding model. He said the current levy in place did not cover the boarding costs of the number of children under the agency’s care. “They are likely to be coming to this board within the next week or so with a $2 million request.” That amount would be just enough to get the agency through the end of the year.
The commissioner said the request is a projection of the need for funds based on nothing changing for the agency in terms of the number of kids in custody or their available funding. “I don’t think it’s Children Services fault.” He blamed the problems as just another symptom of the opioid epidemic that has devastated the county. “First we saw the people that were using impacted and affected. Now it’s becoming more apparent it’s the next generation that’s impacted.”
We Are Losing Ground
Powell warned that there would be some tough decisions coming up. He said the Children Services Board was putting together an action plan to present to the commissioners. “I know they’ve been working hard trying to figure out how to be more efficient or more productive. Even if they do everything right, they’ll still be short.”
Powell said that while the shortfall is a terrible thing, the agency is still taking care of almost 400 children. “There’s other counties that are not as proactive as this county. In terms of our court system as to getting them out of bad situations.” He went on to say that the commissioners must make sure the money is there to provide for the needs of the children. “There’s so much need there in terms of mental health services, social services, just a safe place to live.”
Powell added, “If you want to be a foster family, please reach out to Children Services. “I think at this point we only have 24 foster families. We’re losing ground at a rapid rate.”
The cost of placing children with a local foster family is $27.50 a day. Placing children through an outside agency is double that.
Children Are Our Treasure
Commissioner Bryan Davis said commissioners have also been in touch with the Juvenile Court and the Prosecutor looking at ways to improve the process and reduce the amount of time it takes to find children a permanent placement. “The trauma that we see these children go through is much worse than we’ve seen in the past. Opioid addiction itself can be violent, it can be discouraging. We have children walking over dead parents. It’s life-altering trauma.” He also called for improved mental health services for children. “That will cost us more. We’re at a place where we have to make a decision as a community whether or not we are going to stand behind these children. They are our treasure.” Davis quoted scripture, reminding people that the Bible tells us to take care of the fatherless and widows. “We need to take care of these children. It is not only the mission of this government, but I believe it is the mission of the church.” Davis called on the faith community to help in any way possible.
Cut To The Bone
Davis said there was no doubt it would cost more. He quoted the late Commissioner Mike Crabtree, “You don’t do more with less. You do less with less. You can cut to the bone, but at some point, the bleeding doesn’t stop. You gotta fix it.”
Powell said he was anxious to see the action plan and the final request for funding. “That $2 million is not a fix. It’s a Band-Aid. It gets them roughly through the end of the year based on their current expenses.” He said if the community doesn’t do something the commissioners might need to provide millions of dollars in additional funding every year. “We have to support our children. We can get through it.”
