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JFS director warns foster-care placements and purchased-care costs are rising in Hancock County
Summary
Hancock County Job & Family Services reported rising foster-care placements and growing purchased-care expenses, with staff saying available grant dollars have been exhausted for treatment foster care and that the county faces increased quarterly costs and reimbursement uncertainty.
Randall L. Galbraith, director of Hancock County Job & Family Services, told the county commissioners on March 17 that "the number of kids in care is high right now" and that placement costs for the year have increased substantially.
Galbraith presented the department's financial summary and placement projections, citing YTD foster-care placement charges of $368,034.33 and an end-balance figure of $286,425.93 after reimbursements and credits. He said the county currently has 10 owned foster homes and 39 family foster home placements overall, and that many children remain in purchased-care placements (group homes, residential and treatment foster care), which carry higher per-diem costs.
Galbraith warned commissioners that grant dollars for treatment foster care have run out and that those placements will now cost about $20,000 per quarter. He also said the SNAP federal reimbursement rate and error-rate discussion is under review and "he is not sure yet how this will impact the budget." The department announced a foster-home recruitment dinner scheduled for April 25 at the Hilton Garden Inn.
Attachments provided by JFS include detailed placement counts and a multi-line cost projection: the report lists 91 children in foster care as of Feb. 28, 2026, and itemizes purchased-care annual projections that total in the millions (detailed line items supplied in the department's attachment). Commissioners asked for additional details and heard that the county is exploring use of the county home as an additional placement option.
The commissioners did not take action during the meeting on program changes; the report was accepted for review and placed on the record. Follow-up items identified by the department include monitoring SNAP reimbursement changes, pursuing foster-home recruitment, and addressing maintenance needs at JFS facilities.
