By Becky Long
Publisher
Children coming into foster care do not have a comfortable home away from home. No beds, TVs, or showers. They often wind up in the county DSS office awaiting placement or even in emergency rooms.
The need for a space became critical as DSS offices across the state and nation saw a child welfare system in crisis due to an increase in the past few years in the number of children being served and brought into care, according to County Manager Debbie Mauney.
“There is not enough foster families to meet these needs,” she said.
Mauney secured a grant for the county to purchase property on Fort Hembree Road which is the site for the DSS Annex. She said the property was chosen because the location was ideal.
“In order for our DSS Annex to have the greatest chance for success, we needed it to be in close proximity to a network of resources,” Mauney said. “The location of the facility will be within easy access of the health department and Community Paramedic Program should any medical needs arise. Additionally, law enforcement will be close by to help monitor the facility and to assist should the need arise.”
Mauney and DSS are anticipating the arrival of the new four bedroom modular home, perhaps within a few months.
The annex has not been given a name yet but is modeled after the Isaiah House in Union County , Ga.
“This will be such a benefit to these kids. Sometimes they end up in the hospital, we have no where to put them,” Mauney said. “It’s very hard on the kids and social workers. This is not a permanent place, but a nice place until we can find a placement.”
The American Rescue Act allocated a $400,000 grant which made purchasing the annex possible.
“Creating a DSS Annex was the answer to preventing children from being kept overnight in offices, left in emergency rooms, or placed, unnecessarily, in psychiatric residential treatment facilities due to a lack of placement opportunities,” Mauney said.
“DSS leadership and I are so excited to have this space for out foster kids.”