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Rutherford County DSS highlights adoption gains, 'Bring the Kids Home' initiative amid heavy foster caseloads
Summary
Department leaders told the board that adoption numbers and stipends helped reduce available-for-adoption counts and outlined initiatives — including a UNC grant and a 'Bring the Kids Home' effort — aimed at reducing out-of-county foster placements and improving reunification.
Director Hunt told the Rutherford County Department of Social Services board on Feb. 18 that the adoption unit has increased placements and that the county has received stipend payments tied to adoptions, which staff estimate at more than $100,000.
"This adoption unit, they are on fire," Director Hunt said, praising staff and noting adoption ceremonies and public outreach (including a billboard and t-shirts) as tools to promote placements. Director Hunt and staff urged board members to help promote adoption awareness and outreach.
Staff also described foster care placement types and why some placements are not billable (court-ordered or trial home placements that do not meet billing criteria). Director Hunt said about 60% of the county's foster children are placed out of the county and emphasized initiatives to bring more children home when possible, including a UNC Collaboratory grant focused on retention and reunification and a social-media push to recruit families.
The board asked for a breakdown of the 42 children referenced as being in non-billable or trial placements; Director Hunt said staff would compile ages and placement-type details and present them at a future meeting so the board can better understand which cases might move to adoption or reunification.
What happens next: staff will provide the requested breakdown of the 42 children in non-billable placements and continue outreach efforts described at the meeting.
