During the next two months, the Social Services board will listen to at least five agencies pitch proposals to provide services for those children.

Tom Brewer, children’s services program administrator, said Tuesday that Social Services has several options for serving children with behavioral disorders, problems stemming from abuse or other conditions that require special care.

Among those options, the department might:

• Recruit and train foster parents for children with special needs.
• Open its own facility in Rowan County.
• Contract with an outside agency to open a facility here.

Any of those alternatives would likely save the county money, though Brewer didn’t specify how much.

Currently, nine of the 193 children in Social Services care are in “therapeutic foster care” in places such as group homes or treatment facilities, Brewer said.

The average monthly cost for those children is $6,000, with some treatment bills reaching $10,000 a month, he said. Judges order some of the treatment.

“Aside from the fact it’s mandated, we have a moral responsibility to these children and the people in our community,” board member Lee Piper said. “Because if we don’t take care of these kids, they are going to be a problem later on.”

And the county can only expect more children who need the care, and at a higher cost.

“The numbers are not dwindling. They’re increasing,” Brewer said, “and the cost is also escalating.”

Brewer, at the board’s request, has gathered information from agencies that provide the special services necessary. Several have offered to make presentations, explaining to the board what they could do to address the needs.

The board decided to hear from five, with three presenting on Feb. 22 and two in March. They are: Charter Hospital, Children’s Home Society, Lutheran Family Services, Omni Community Services and Nazareth Children’s Home.

Brewer said another agency, based in Raleigh, has offered to make a presentation as well, but the board did not decide to hear from that agency.

The benefits of having an outside agency operate a facility include the county not having to hire and train staff or pay insurance for the home, Brewer said.

The ultimate goal is to provide the care in a family setting, with the goal of reuniting children with their families, finding adoptive parents or preparing the children to live independently, he said.

Board Chairman Frank Tadlock, also a county commissioner, said he wants to proceed quickly but cautiously with the study.