St. Lawrence County DSS forms partnership with Children’s Home

CANTON — The St. Lawrence County Department of Social Services is working on a plan to have the Children’s Home of Jefferson County take over recruitment and training of all of its foster homes so it can focus on an increase in child abuse and neglect cases.

The expanded role for the Children’s Home means the opening of an office, most likely in Canton, and 20 to 25 jobs.

“We’re very excited about this opportunity,” said Karen Y. Richmond, Children’s Home director. “It’s really a continuation of what we already do.”

The Children’s Home in Watertown already handles 17 of the county’s foster care cases, and having the nonprofit agency take over the remainder is seen as a way for the county to reorganize its services without additional cost. The goal is to cut down on the amount of time children spend in foster care, keep them within their home county and prevent them from returning to care.

“We’re mindful that the county doesn’t want to spend more money,” Ms. Richmond said. “If we reduce recidivism, we should reduce cost.”

The Children’s Home will have meetings for foster care families and anyone interested from the community from 10 a.m. to noon and 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 30 at the Best Western University Inn.

Other counties that have turned over foster care recruiting and training of foster care parents to similar agencies have not seen an increase in cost, said Christopher R. Rediehs, DSS commissioner.

The DSS staff members would continue to serve as case managers for children in foster care.

Making the switch will allow the county’s staff to spend more time dealing with a growing number of abuse and neglect cases.

County legislators recently agreed to transfer a preventive/foster care worker to Child Protective Services to help reduce the load from more than 15 cases per worker closer to the state recommendation of 12.

In 2010, the county investigated 1,647 reports of abuse or neglect. In 2011, that number had grown to 1,724. The number of cases increased even though the county is consolidating more when multiple reports are received on the same people.

Along with the increase, the nature of the cases has changed.

“The cases themselves are increasingly difficult,” Mr. Rediehs said. “It really is imperative we take care of CPS. It is seen as some of the most challenging work we do.”

There are more reports involving younger children, an increase in drug-related cases and more severe physical abuse, said Heather A. Rand, children’s services supervisor.

Mr. Rediehs linked the increase in abuse and neglect cases to the troubled economy.

“These are especially difficult times,” he said.

People short on money who are struggling to pay their bills sometimes let their problems get the best of them, Mrs. Rand said.

“Stress makes people emotional,” she said.

Having the Children’s Home take on more of a role in foster care will help even if the learning curve is steep, Mrs. Rand said.

“I’m very optimistic about the partnership,” she said. “The whole point is to better serve the families.”