Carlisle, Pennsylvania — ‘Deadbeat parents’ was a point of conversation raised by one commissioner at Cumberland County’s Finance Meeting yesterday, when a vote was taken on whether to approve the “Human Services Policy Team Fund Plan.”
The Plan, approved by majority vote, sets the stage for the Commissioners to vote annually to place up to $100,000 annually in a Human Services Policy Team Fund, from the annual interest of the $7.4M Claremont Nursing Home sale proceeds.
While Commissioners Jean Foschi (D) and Kelly Neiderer (R) voted in favor of the plan, Gary Eichelberger (I) opposed it, after raising some questions.
Eichelberger referenced comments made by Andrew Benner, the county’s Chief Juvenile Probation Officer, using language that “deadbeat parents” are a concern, with delinquent youth being a serious issue in this county. “How long will it be until word gets around … and we are the funder of first resort?,” Eichelberger asked. Eichelberger also noted that the $7.4M from the nursing home sale is being “set aside,” to generate interest for this program, while the county is facing a $3.3M budget deficit. Neiderer acknowledged that Cumberland County is in a “budget-challenged position.”
To Eichelberger’s point, Benner did acknowledge the issue of parents “reaching their limit,” while the number of youth in residential facilities is maxing out. “We have youth sitting in residential facilities that are 18-19 years old; this is a population that has the highest recidivism rates. And our only option at times is to try to stabilize them in some way, which at times is just to release them back into the streets.”
Benner said this new funding may fill a gap; when these now-grown residents are released, they can find housing for 1-2 months and mentors to transition them into adulthood, because they no longer have resources from a family.
Neiderer addressed one of Eichelberger’s points, about jeopardizing other funding sources, when she stated: “The intention is never to supplant any other funding stream; this is a funding of ‘last resort’ that had been previously filled with employee donations in many instances.” Neiderer said the proceeds from the nursing home have been in an account, earning – and it’s gone down a little, she said – but about 5% in interest, which is generating approximately $300,000 on an annual basis.
Necole Gresh, county administrator of Children & Youth Services, presented the proposed plan, assembled by the county’s commissioned exploratory committee, at the county finance committee meeting. (The commissioned exploratory committee included many residents who met with county human services department heads.) “Everything they developed is foundation to where we have moved forward with the plan,” said Gresh.
Gresch said she’s going to make sure: “we’ve done everything we can before we utilize ‘this’ funding.” Eichelberger was curious about the “volume” of needs above what the county can meet at this time.
Gresch said when needs arose for things like – food, money, grocery gift cards – employees often raised funds, using dress-down days and other fundraising ideas.
Robin Tolan, MH Senior Human Services Program Manager, said sometime county residents can tap into community donation programs, but they must be a resident within that (often-wealthy) community. Eichelberger asked about the faith community’s role, and Gresch said a county program called, “The Gateway” which involves the county’s churches, taps into those funds.
Harrisburg100 