09-28-09 Common Council Meeting Agenda & Packet

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Area Board of Zoning Appeals -September 2, 2009 become custody of the State. But it would surprise me that the State would be paying enough per child, with the number of children that you have there to support a home of this size and to pay the staff that you're talking about and to make that a break even operation. MR. PEDRO GURROLA: Actually the way that it works is that we actually put the numbers together and budget is submitted to them. So we actually tell them these are the expenses we think we're going to have, here's what it takes to operate the group home and it's submitted to the State. MR. PHIPPS: The State can pays more for children in a group home than they do for let's say somebody in a foster care with a regular family? MR. GURROLA: We're not sure. MS. GURROLA: In general they do but the problem here is that it's hard to place older children. I don't know how much you know, when you said not too much about the program, but with CASA it is more difficult to place children in teen years. Most families when they take a foster child in they tend to want the younger children. So then you leave unserved population because they're not getting service. You have in this county girls that are in juvenile detention, not because they've broken a law but because there's no group home or proper placement or foster home that will take them. So the whole desire already had but the placement and the choice here is because of the need that CASA, DCS, juvenile court system has indicated to me there is a strong need here. So therefore I decided to proceed with the program here. MR. FEDDER: Now will these young ladies attend our schools? MS. GURROLA: Yes sir, local ... MR. FEDDER: Now would that require the various school buses depending on where they are to pick them up at that house or will you deliver them to the schools? MS. GURROLA: As with any kid on the block whether the bus stops at the corner or up the road, however it's done. MR. FEDDER: I'm with you but would you're organization take these girls to schools or would buses pick them up and take them to school? MS. GURROLA: If it's such that the grade schools, because I have to answer differently, grade schools would be different than high schools. High school most of the kids can walk to a local common stop and get picked up, so that's what the girls will do. MR. FEDDER: Alright. MS. GURROLA: The younger kids, may need some supervision or may need to be dropped off or they may be able to walk if they're not in need of any special services but that would be coordinated with the social Worker from Hope House along with the along with the case worker or guardian from the State. 16