Foster-children programs merger delayed

Cy Ryan and Adrienne Packer

Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2002 | 11:21 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The merger of state and Clark County foster children programs will be delayed six to nine months, and the Summit View juvenile prison will be mothballed because of the budget reductions ordered by Gov. Kenny Guinn.

In addition, accelerated treatment of 327 severely emotionally disturbed children will be slowed down, state Human Resources Director Mike Willden said today.

Guinn ordered all state agencies to cut 3 percent to make up an expected $275 million shortfall in revenue this biennium.

Willden said the state will save $5 million by postponing the programs, and about $2.3 million by mothballing Summit View.

But the delays won't affect foster children in Southern Nevada, because they will still be under state care, he said.

"We are not cutting services. We are just delaying some programs," Willden said.

The 2001 Legislature voted to let Clark County take over all child welfare services in the county. The county currently oversees Child Protective Services and Child Haven -- a children's shelter -- and the state handles adoptions and foster care. The split has created delays in placement of children.

Susan Klein-Rothchild, director of the county's Department of Family Services, said the delay will affect her goal of involving foster care workers in cases earlier in the process, speeding up permanent placement of children.

But, she said, the county will move forward with other portions of the new system, such as working with families and relatives to minimize violence, ensuring safety and finding a permanent home for children quickly.

"I would be dishonest if I said it would have no impact. It will," Klein-Rothchild said. "I would be dishonest if I said the delay will keep us still. It won't."

The state will honor its commitment to fund a new $2 million computer system, co-locate its welfare employees with county workers, make lease payments and pay the salaries of workers who have already transferred, Clark County Manager Thom Reilly said.

Under the transfer agreement the state is responsible for paying the employees who move to the county. By delaying the transfer, the state puts off paying for equipment, vehicles and higher county salaries for workers who have not transferred.

Willden said the state staff will still be located in county facilities, but there will be a six to nine months delay in them converting to county employees. Children will stay under state authority under June 30 next year.

Even though the workers will be in one office, Reilly said, it will be difficult to work together, because the county's system differs from the state's process.

"They won't be under one system until they're all county workers," Reilly said. "That will make it more challenging to work together."

A legislative committee led by Assemblywoman Barbara Buckley is scheduled to meet at 8 a.m. Wednesday at the Grant Sawyer Building to discuss how the delay will affect the integration process. Buckley did not return a phone message this morning.

Willden said the state's consolidation with Washoe County's child welfare system will proceed. In addition, Willden said the state will hire only 14 of the authorized 28 positions for upgraded child welfare services in rural Nevada and for additional oversight.

Willden said the proposed contract to open Summit View will be held in abeyance. A state evaluation team has given preliminary approval for a contract with Securicor New Century Inc., a Georgia company to reopen the facility.

The state will continue to contract with outside facilities to house these juvenile offenders, he said. Also delayed is upgraded services for 327 severely emotional disturbed children authorized by the 2001 Legislature. A pilot program for 32 of them will continue, but the division will start phasing in the rest of the children in January, rather than in November.

By the end of this fiscal year 213 children will be receiving the upgraded treatment instead of 327. The state put $1.4 million and the federal government chipped in $1 million.