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Services. According to Mrs. Buntin, the State Welfare Department insists that the Division of Youth Services has money to fund group homes but the Department lacks the means to force Youth Services to put funds into a project of this type. It appears logical that a group home could be organized to serve the five counties in the Rappahannock-Rapidan Planning District Nine. However, Mrs. Buntin noted that the counties in the District come under different judges, making it harder to come up with a joint solution.
PD Will Help
With Planning Martha Jones, the Criminal Justice Planner for PD9, agreed that there is a possibility of establishing a family-oriented group home with funding from the Department of Corrections to serve several of PD9’s counties.
She acknowledged that placing status offenders and incorrigibles in private homes, as done throughout PD9, presented problems with finding adequate foster care—either ’ emergency or long term. Miss Jones noted that placement of Children in Need of Services had to be voluntary with the child in agreement. “They cannot be held in jail or by the police,” she said, adding that a judge also lacked authority over status offenders.
“It’s the responsibility of the Welfare Department or the Probation Office to find a place for the child to stay,” Miss Jones said. “They’re obligated by law (that) says they must provide services for these children.”
If counties or Welfare Departments in PD9 requested assistance from the District Commission, Miss Jones said she could help with planning a group home and could do the leg work in arranging funding. She indicated that the Department of Corrections Division of Youth Services, with a Community Residential Care Specialist at regional offices in Falls Church, should be the first option explored. She added that it might also be possible to secure a grant through the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration.
Miss Jones also reported that the chances look good for the Planning District Commission to receive a Youth Services Planning Grant. Under the grant, the Commission would “have the opportunity to get someone in here to help localities look at youth problems,” she concluded.
The critical need for adequate foster care facilities in Rappahannock, Orange and the other PD9 counties should be high on the list.
(Next week: Visit one of Rappahannock’s most effective foster homes).
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