A push to find adoptive parents for children who have languished in foster care is working.
Rowan County has the fewest children in foster care in more than five years.
Tom Brewer, director of Child Protective Services, lauded the success of adoption while outlining the ongoing effort to deal with child abuse and neglect.
The Department of Social Services now has legal custody of 178 children. Five years ago, the department had custody of 248 children, Brewer told the Social Services board Tuesday evening.
He cited a 1998 change in state law that pushes departments to take quick action, remove children from homes where abuse and neglect occur and find suitable adoptive parents — all within a year.
Prior to the change, Brewer said a child could languish in the foster program for five or 10 years. In many cases, the children reached 18 while in the foster program.
Responding to questions from board members, Brewer said the county is continuing to earn incentive money from the state for success in adoption.
“It’s been a lifesaver,” said Brewer, referring to the money which the agency has used to produce a video, pay for billboards and fund other efforts to recruit adoptive parents.
Board member Zell Setzer emphasized that the department has received $128,000 from the state in incentive funds “because the Rowan DSS did a good job.”
The department has more than $80,000 remaining in the adoptive services fund. Brewer said the department has renewed billboard contracts and continues to recruit parents.
Much of Brewer’s presentation focused on the continuing reports of abuse and neglect.
In 1999-2000, the department received 2,214 reports, investigated 1,446 and substantiated 400 cases.
Since July, the department has received more than 1,500 reports and investigated 963 cases.
“The problem is still there,” Brewer said.
A month-by-month breakdown shows most of the reported cases involve neglect.
The department receives around 200 reports each month.
Responding to questions from County Commissioners Leda Belk and Gus Andrews, Brewer said reports are tracked. In some of the cases, they receive four or five reports on one person or family in a year.
“We keep a running list,” said Brewer, indicating that is a factor in decisions to remove children from the home.
Board member Lee Piper Pickthorne noted that awareness and publicity about child abuse may be a major factor in the number of report.
Brewer pointed out that the department now has 12 investigators to deal with the reports. Four years ago when three children were killed in their homes after abuse reports had been filed, the department had seven investigators.
To call attention to child abuse prevention, the department and several area agencies will participate in the observance of “Child Abuse Prevention Month” in April.
Among the special events or activities:
- April 7, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Day of the Young Child at the former Lowe’s Building on Jake Alexander Boulevard.
- April 7, 2 p.m., 3rd annual Child Abuse Prevention Parade on Main Street in Salisbury and kickoff of blue ribbon campaign. “Blue Ribbons for Kids” campaign is a statewide child abuse prevention campaign. Supporters are asked to wear a blue ribbon throughout the month.
- April 9, 7:30 p.m., Rowan County Courthouse, candlelight vigil.
The public is invited to join in the events or suggest other events.
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