Burke County commissioners voted unanimously Dec. 15 to direct the county manager to draft a request for qualifications (RFQ) to pursue a vertically integrated foster-care vendor. County Manager Brian Eppley told the board the approach would centralize recruitment, licensing and support services with the goal of increasing the number of licensed foster parents and shortening children’s time in care.

Eppley said the county currently has about 11 licensed foster parents and spends roughly $2,700,000 annually on foster care. “We think that those goals inside of this unified project ... support our organizational purpose of improving lives here in Burke County,” he said, arguing that a unified vendor could create purchasing power and operational efficiencies.

His presentation pointed to local data showing Burke County’s investigation and substantiation rates are higher than state and federal averages and that the local average time to permanency for children in care was approximately 1,298 days. Eppley said the RFQ would seek services ranging from clinical assessments and substance-use treatment to parenting education, and that the county planned to post the RFQ for about 30 days with an anticipated 60–90 day implementation window after selection.

Commissioners framed the move as a strategy to expand local foster capacity and hasten reunification when possible. After discussion Commissioner Burns moved to accept the report and authorize the manager to proceed with the RFQ; the motion passed 5-0. The manager said staff would return with the draft RFQ and recommended selection process for board review.

What comes next: staff will draft the RFQ, post it for the advertised period and convene a selection committee that could include board and Department of Social Services representatives. No contract award was made at the meeting.