Crawford County wants to license therapeutic foster homes within county

Crawford County working to add therapeutic foster care
Gasuras, Kimberly. Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum, March 7, 2009.

GALION - The Crawford County Job and Family Services Children Services Unit is working with the Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Board, Crawford County Juvenile Court and Community Counseling Services to benefit local children.

"We have 34 children in traditional foster homes in our county, but there are nine children in therapeutic foster homes that are located outside of our county," Crawford County Children Services Placement Supervisor Julie Mandusic said. "There are also five children currently in residential treatment facilities. We feel the children in therapeutic settings would be better served if they could stay in Crawford County near their family members who are there for them, their friends and their schools."

The collaboration is a strong one, focused on the best interest of the children, she said.

"Everyone in the collaboration, which also includes Juvenile Court Judge Eckstein, gets what we are trying to do. Sue Bauer is our foster-to-adopt placement coordinator, and she is doing a lot of work to make this come together," said Children Services Intervention Supervisor Peggy Reeves.

Crawford County Job and Family Services Executive Director Tom O'Leary also sees the importance of keeping children who need a therapeutic setting close to home.

"Of the nine children in therapeutic settings currently and the five children in residential care, half are girls who have been sexually abused. They need extensive therapy to overcome what they have been through and a loving home while they are dealing with everything.

"The other half are boys who have gotten into some amount of trouble, most of which come from single-parent homes. They need a therapeutic home with a strong male role model," he said.

In the past, Children Services has been forced to place children in need of therapeutic placements in homes outside the county through private agencies.

"The cost for a child in traditional care is $25 per day for children 12 and under. For children 12 and up, it is $30 per day. The cost for a child in therapeutic foster care is about $125 per day while children in residential treatment facilities require $225 per day," Reeves said.

Crawford County spends about $1.2 million per year on foster care.

"By finally having the ability to license therapeutic foster homes in our own county, we will save the taxpayers money and be able to use that money for other services to help the families in our own county," O'Leary said.

The agency will have an open house at 5 p.m. Monday for anyone interested in becoming licensed. Refreshments will be served at the the agency's Galion office at 865 Harding Way West.
For information, call 419-468-3255.