Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Social Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Natchez Children’s Services asks Adams County for $15,000 appropriation after serving 304 local children
Summary
Catherine McPhee, executive director, asked the board to include Natchez Children’s Services in county appropriations; she said the center served 441 children last year, 304 from Adams County, and requested $15,000 to continue services.
Catherine McPhee, executive director of Natchez Children’s Services, appealed to the Adams County Board of Supervisors for a county appropriation to support the local children’s advocacy center.
McPhee said the center served 441 children across its service area last year and 304 cases originated in Adams County. She told supervisors that, based on national cost estimates from the National Children’s Alliance, it costs nearly $1,000 per child to operate a children’s advocacy center; McPhee said she was requesting $15,000 from the county’s appropriations for the upcoming budget.
Board members and staff explained the process for appropriations: agencies must submit a formal request to be included in the budget. One board member noted the county could not make a direct donation off‑cycle and that any allocation would be considered during the budget process. McPhee said she would re‑submit the formal appropriation request and a supporting letter for this year’s budget cycle.
Why it matters: the county’s support helps sustain services for child‑victims of abuse and neglect. McPhee said including the center in county appropriations could help the county avoid greater costs elsewhere by supporting the center’s multidisciplinary services.
Next steps: McPhee will submit the formal appropriation paperwork to county administration for review and inclusion in the budget process; the board did not authorize immediate funding during the meeting.
