Executive Director Melanie Engle reported that Children's Services is seeing an increase in the number of investigations at its board meeting Thursday.
So far this year, Engle continued, the organization has conducted 157 investigations. If this trend continues, they could be looking at 377 investigations by the end of the year, which is double the amount of cases in 2009. Increases in substance abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect are possible explanations for the increase.
The board is also seeing an increase in purchased care or treatment-level care. The care is provided to children who have mental health, emotional, and behavioral needs that can only be addressed in a treatment-level home. Purchased care is more expensive than other forms of child care. A treatment setting could be $230 dollars a day as compared to the cost of $26 a day for young child in traditional foster care.
Last month, Children’s Services reported it is researching the cost of installing surveillance cameras in the building. After discussion the organization decided they wanted to see what their yearly projected expenses would be before making a decision.
Engle comments about the meeting.
The Logan County Children's Services Board of Directors will meet again on July 12th at 5 pm.
