Youth & Family Services

Youth & Family Services Modifications to Foster Care Services at Great Oaks Village May 24,2011

Presentation Outline • History of Great Oaks Village • Current Services and Enrollment • Staffing • Funding Structure • Recommendation • Next Steps

History of Great Oaks Village Began in 1924 as county orphanage Placement for children who have been removed from their home by the State of Florida due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment Children range in age from 6 - 18 years Height of capacity was in 1998 when it could accommodate 84 children

Nationally accredited since 2003 2003 state legislation changed foster care to a “community based care” lead agency model. Family Services of Metro Orlando (FSMO) became this area’s lead agency in March 2004. Contentious bid process in 2010 resulted in a new lead agency being selected. CBC Central Florida took over on April 1, 2011 History of Great Oaks Village

History of Great Oaks Village

Current Services and Enrollment • Two different programs provide youth residential services commonly referred to as GOV: • Group care cottages located on the Michigan Avenue campus • Laurel Hills Independence Center (LHIC) located in Pine Hills on the former Sunland grounds • Each program provide unique services to a specific youth population

Current Services and Enrollment GOV Cottages Residential Cottages • Owles - Elementary/Middle School Girls • Day - Elementary/Middle School Boys • Highsmith - High School Girls • Myers - High School Boys • Soistman - High School Girls/Boys and Independent Living youth (over 18 yrs.) Myers Soistman Highsmith Day Owles

Current Services and Enrollment GOV Cottages (cont.) Maximum Capacity: 60 Per diem rate: $92 Current Population: 46 • Youth are grouped by age/sex • Seven cottages on campus • Five residential • One used as office space for Wraparound Orange grant • One vacant

Current Services and Enrollment Laurel Hills Independence Center Maximum Capacity: 12 Per Diem rate: $120 Current Population: 5 • Serves Middle/High School Boys • Boys typically older, have been in multiple failed group home placements, and often have DJJ involvement • In operation since 1990

Staffing GOV Cottages Staffing = 7 staff plus 1 lead worker • Required staffing per cottage is based on a ratio of 1:6 for awake hours and 1:12 for sleeping hours; therefore 7-12 children require: • 6 AM – 2 PM, M-F: 2 staff per cottage (except school hours) • 2 PM – 10 PM, M-F: 2 staff per cottage • 10 PM – 6 AM, M-Sun: 1 staff plus 1 campus floater • 6 AM – 10 PM, Sat & Sun: 2 staff • Each Cottage is supervised by a Senior Children’s Counselor who directs the program, supervises the staff, and provides fill in coverage when needed.

Staffing LHIC Staffing = 8 staff plus 2 lead workers • Required staffing pattern is: • 6 AM – 2 PM, M-F: 2 staff • 6 AM – 2 PM, Sat & Sun: 2 staff • 2 PM – 10 PM, M-F: 2 staff • 4 PM – 12 AM, M-Sun: 1 staff • 10 PM – 6 AM ,M-Sun: 1 staff • LHIC has 2 lead workers who split the program coverage and count in the daily ratio. There is also 1 additional staff person to cover the 4P-12A shift in order to assist with resident transportation to jobs and activities.

GOV & LHIC Staff • 4 Supervisors (1 Vacant) • 1 Administrative Specialist (Vacant) • 11 Clinical/Caseworker Services (4 Vacant) • 63 Direct Care (9 f/t & 2 p/t Vacant) • 8 Food Service Staff (2 Vacant) • 4 Facilities Staff • 1 Recreation Specialist Total = 89 FTEs

Funding Structure • Source of funding is a combination of county general revenue and state appropriation • Line item in state budget provides maximum annual funding that can be earned via a contract with the Department of Children & Families • FY ’10-11 amount • $2,687,009 State appropriation • Current contract value is $2,016,260 • $2.4 M County GR

Funding Structure – Prior Years Revenue Earned Total FY Expenditures

Funding Structure – Current Costs • Due to fixed operating costs for the GOV & LHIC programs, a lower population results in a higher cost per child • For FY 2009-2010 the actual cost per child was • GOV = $204 per day • LHIC = $221 per day

Funding Structure – Rate Comparison Per Diem State Contract Rates Providers in Orange County

Recommendation GOV maintains 60 beds in five cottages • 2 male cottages • 2 female cottages • 1 mixed • Eliminate the LHIC Program • Combine the staffing of both GOV & LHIC onto one campus • Reduce # of FTEs from 89 to 62 • 18 vacant positions (2 part-time) • 12 filled positions (4 part-time) • Savings = $675,709 Reduction = 15%

Recommendation (cont.) Maintain GOV at 60 beds in five cottages • Advantages • Allows for most of current programming to continue • Provides the best structure and capacity to place a child in the right cottage • Matches our perception of community need and is consistent with discussions with CBC of Central Florida • Provides the best opportunity to earn available state funding

Recommendation (cont.) Maintain GOV at 60 beds in five cottages • Advantages (Continued) • Maximizes our clinical support options • Maximizes advantages of centralized food preparation and dining hall usage • Provides flexibility for future programming options • Maintains visible and viable high-quality county program • Disadvantages • If population remains low there will be a higher cost per child

Next Steps • Notify Staff Impacted • Establish internal county job hiring process similar to what was done with Building employees • Close LHIC facility by June 30, 2011 • New DCF contract effective July 1, 2011 • Discuss with state an increase in contract rate to $115 per child, per day • For FY 09-10 GOV would have earned an additional $497,877 by charging $115 per day

Youth & Family Services