Childnet reports lowest foster care population in 13 years, urges funding model reform

Larry Rhine, chief executive officer of Childnet (the lead agency for community‑based care in Palm Beach County), presented a fiscal and program update to the Palm Beach County legislative delegation. Rhine said foster care counts in Palm Beach are at the lowest point in his 13 years with Childnet — "we are just at 1,000 children" — and credited judicial, case‑management and service provider work with more rapid movement to permanence.

Rhine said a legislative special appropriation sponsored by Representative Gerwig and Senator Topolsky eliminated a $4,500,000 deficit carried over three years. He cautioned, however, that the state's proposed funding model — historically based allocations and a per‑member‑per‑month mechanism — could perpetuate historical inequities and disincentivize agencies that reduce foster placements. He urged the legislature and staff to work with lead agencies and the Department of Children and Families to design a new model that preserves incentive for reductions in foster care while ensuring equitable base funding.

Rhine said Childnet is meeting regularly with DCF and is preparing to engage members of the Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee on reform proposals. He did not present specific bill text during the hearing.