North Carolina
Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 8:52 pm
http://www.wnct.com/nct/news/local/arti ... ren/24028/
Foster Care Changes Could Shuffle Children
By Jim Niedelman
Weekend Edition Anchor
Published: November 18, 2008
Dozens, possibly hundreds of foster children could be forced into new homes all because of a change in the way private agencies get paid. At least one agency claims it will go out of business because of it.
...
Hunter currently has two foster children who came to her from Lifegains, a private agency that places kids with behavioral, health and physical problems that the state can’t. But, Lifegains has a problem. It will see its state funding will drop by 42-percent in January. Now it plans to go out of business and leave its foster families without the immediate and personal support they’re used to. Families could get a license with social services. However, there’s concern that the families will give up their kids instead.
...
Dixon says D.S.S. will find a home for all foster children, whether it’s through a group home or another agency. Besides Lifegains services, d-s-s can’t match the financial support for each child.
Lifegains pays its foster families $900 a month. If Lifegains goes out of business, social services will only be able to pay them $634 a month at most. That adds a financial challenge to these families already raising special needs kids.
...
Lifegains will go to Raleigh on Friday to lobby to have its funding restored.
Foster Care Changes Could Shuffle Children
By Jim Niedelman
Weekend Edition Anchor
Published: November 18, 2008
Dozens, possibly hundreds of foster children could be forced into new homes all because of a change in the way private agencies get paid. At least one agency claims it will go out of business because of it.
...
Hunter currently has two foster children who came to her from Lifegains, a private agency that places kids with behavioral, health and physical problems that the state can’t. But, Lifegains has a problem. It will see its state funding will drop by 42-percent in January. Now it plans to go out of business and leave its foster families without the immediate and personal support they’re used to. Families could get a license with social services. However, there’s concern that the families will give up their kids instead.
...
Dixon says D.S.S. will find a home for all foster children, whether it’s through a group home or another agency. Besides Lifegains services, d-s-s can’t match the financial support for each child.
Lifegains pays its foster families $900 a month. If Lifegains goes out of business, social services will only be able to pay them $634 a month at most. That adds a financial challenge to these families already raising special needs kids.
...
Lifegains will go to Raleigh on Friday to lobby to have its funding restored.