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Commissioners approve $200,000 in ARPA revenue‑loss funds for emergency foster‑care placements
Summary
Lee County approved a request to allocate $200,000 of ARPA revenue‑loss funds to provide enhanced emergency placement payments for children in foster care to avoid children remaining in offices or experiencing placement disruptions.
Lee County Social Services requested and the Board of Commissioners approved $200,000 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) revenue‑loss funds Sept. 15 to support emergency placements for children in foster care.
Angelina Noll, presenting for the Department of Social Services, described the program’s purpose: to provide enhanced payment rates to placement providers when a child with significant behavioral‑health needs is awaiting an appropriate higher‑level placement ("level placement") and to avoid children sleeping in the DSS office while placement is found. Noll said a 2024, state‑directed $100,000 appropriation had been nearly exhausted and that the county’s request would extend the ability to negotiate temporary enhanced payments until a long‑term placement is secured.
Noll noted the state’s kinship payment structure now allows unlicensed relatives caring for children who do not become licensed foster providers to receive half of the standard board rate; if the relative becomes certified, full board rates apply. She said the department is actively recruiting licensed foster parents and conducts MAP training to certify new foster homes.
Commissioners asked about outreach and suggested recurring public seminars to recruit and inform potential foster families; staff said they conduct training and outreach and would explore additional public events. Commissioner Sharp endorsed the request: "I can't think anything better than spending $200,000 on foster children." The board voted verbally to approve the funding; the motion passed with no recorded dissents in the transcript.
Implementation: staff said the funds would be administered by Lee County DSS and used to provide temporary enhanced payments for placement providers and to help stabilize placements while the department secures appropriate long‑term settings. The motion to allocate ARPA revenue‑loss funds was approved during the meeting.
Provenance (transcript excerpts): "I'm before you tonight to request to authorize the use of $200,000 of ARPA revenue loss funds for emergency placement funding for children experiencing foster care." (block_id: "4446.6147", reason_code: "topicintro", evidence_excerpt: "Good evening chair and commissioners. I'm before you tonight to request to authorize the use of $200,000 of ARPA revenue loss funds for emergency placement funding for children experiencing foster care.")
"We have a motion. Any further discussion? All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed?" (block_id: "4932.3853", reason_code: "topicfinish", evidence_excerpt: "We have a motion. Any further discussion? All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed?")
