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REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF BARIUM SPRINGS HOME FOR CHILDREN'S
AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE YOUTH SERVICES (RESIDENTIAL BED SPACE FOR 90 -
DAY PLACEMENTS)s The county manager said this proposal was being
reviewed since the Iredell County Youth Home had closed. Barium
Springs has agreed to make available six program spaces to children
referred by Iredell County. The gender components of the agreement
are:
adolescent female (ages 13-18) in Goodman Cottage
adolescent male (ages 14-18) in Sanford Cottage
adolescent males (ages 14-18) in Howard Cottage
pre -adolescent male (ages 10-13) in Stultz Cottage)
The cost for the six spaces, beginning January 1, 1998, will
be $80 per program space per day.
Jay Laurens, Director of Residential Placement for Barium
Springs, said residents may attend school on site or they can
attend public schools. The daily school population is around 40
students. If the agreement is approved this could increase to
about 45. The Iredell County Youth Home purchased a new van
recently, and Laurens said his organization would like to lease it.
Commissioner Johnson asked if Barium received State money for
the school. Laurens said the only State money was for the school
feeding program.
Commissioner Fortner asked if Community Based Alternative
(CBA) money could be used for this arrangement. The county manager
said he had talked to the CBA consultant and it could. The money
will be issued to Iredell County and then a reimbursement will be
made to Barium. (A client is currently enrolled at Barium from
another County wherein CBA funds are used for payment.) Laurens
said he knew about CBA guidelines and understood that 50% of
enrollees will have to be court involved.
Commissioner Boone said he understood the agreement to say
that $80 per person per day would have to be paid regardless of
whether or not all beds are occupied. He mentioned the youth home
cost was $76 and this was not including the overhead and
operational expenses. Boone said there was not much difference in
costs once all of this was considered. Plus, at times, the youth
home was not up to full occupancy. Mashburn said the indirect cost
for the County's Youth Home was around $14,300 a year.
Mr. Mashburn said he would like to hold the house (formerly
used for the youth home) for a few months until it is determined
the Barium Spring's arrangement is working.
Commissioner Johnson asked Laurens about improvements in
educational performance of the residents. Laurens said his agency
had done some tracking and there were improvements noted. He said
Barium had a good relationship with South Iredell High School.
Some clients are going to Mitchell Community College.
Gary Lavender, a Family Court Counselor and member of the
Youth Home Advisory Board, mentioned he didn't feel there would be
a problem in occupying the beds. There have been waiting lists in
the past. Lavender said he along with the other members of the
advisory board saw many advantages to the Barium proposal.
Mashburn said this group would continue to meet and monitor the
arrangement.
Laurens said Barium's actual cost was $138-142 per day.
There's about a 1-4 ratio in the cottages. Barium has an
endowment, and management borrows about six percent a year. The
Presbyterian Church USA donates funds each year; however, the
majority of funding comes from private donations.