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OFFICE OF BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PHONE (970) 356-4000, EXT. 4200
'DFAX. (970) 352-0242
915 10TH STREET
P.O. BOX 758
WI O GREELEY, COLORADO 80632
COLORADO
January 4, 1999
Colleen Van Briggle
2628 25th Avenue
Greeley, CO 80631
Dear Ms. Van Briggle:
The Board of County Commissioners received your letter of December 7, 1998, and appreciated
your comments concerning foster care reimbursement. Your candor and insights will be helpful
to us as we review our foster care rates and services.
We are disappointed that you have chosen to leave the Weld County Foster Care Program and
join a Child Placement Agency. As a Board, we are sensitive and aware of the rate
discrepancies between Weld County Foster Care Program and Child Placement Agencies. We
wish you the best in your new endeavors.
We have forwarded a copy of your letter to Ms. Judy A. Griego, Director, Weld County
Department of Social Services, for purposes of planning and possible future rate changes for the
Weld County Foster Care Program.
Very Truly Yours,
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Dale K. Hall, Chair
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[Barbara J. Kirkmeyer, Pro'Tem Georg6 E. Baxter JJJ
M. . Geile Glenn Vant
cc: Judy A. Griego, Director, Weld County Department of Social Services
(mai.
�A C) 990116
December7, 1998
Dear County Commissioners;
I am taking it upon myself to notify you of a situation that I feel is extremely important First let me
identify myself.I am a foster parent for Weld County.I am currently switching from Weld County to a
private agency.I have been in such turmoil over this decision,I can't even begin to explain how hard it was
for us to finally decide leave Weld County Foster Care.I have been working with several others, including
the foser-care co-ordinators,c$supervisors from WCSS trying to get a raise in the amount of
reimbursement for fostering well over a year.I have been involved in several meetings about this topic::,
the latest was with Judy Griego last month. She made it very clear she has no intention of allowing a raise
for foster parents. I have included some information compiled by several foster parents and myself that
you may find interesting and hopefully;helpful.It is with very heavy hearts that we have decided to leave
Weld County after nearly 10 years of fostering and be FORC.k.I) to go to a private agency just so we can
afford to continue to take care of children. 'We can not continue to go in the hole every month,I just don't
understand why the county is so willing to pay the hugh amount to private agencies when they could save
thousands of dollars by doing more for their own foster parents instead of paying for duplicate services,
and hu.igh administrative costs to the CP.As.Hopefully niy sticking my neck out and writing to you will
help you to see what is needed to keep people fostering for Weld County and not lose them to private
agencies.
Sincerely
•
�BCC�rL
1
Colleen VanBriggle
990 iila
ISSUES
CLOT'EINCT ALLOWANCE should be available yearly-fall preferably to prepare for school
and the winter.
SERVICES:cou nseling,reviews,staffings could be held in our homes cutting our mileage(that
we do not receive).
HEALTH INSURANCE for foster parents.Many of us are self employed and can not afford any
heath insurance.
CRITICAL CARE-all children fit these criteria to one degree or another or they would not be in
foster care. Granted some are more'critical'than others.
SHET l:El?-a higher rate is needed to help cover some of these expenses:tearing off wall paper,
broken windows,doors,screens,TVs,VCRs,phi egging drains,flooding bathrooms,urinating/defecating on
carpet so often they need replaced,breaking out bathroom tiling,tearing off shower faucets,breaking
furniture,pouring solvents on wood surface,keying cars,denting(by kicking,sitting on cars),tearing off
door handles,wiper blade arms,breaking mirrors,lens and last but not least attemped theft of the car. If
every incident were to be turned in to our insurance our premiums would he sky-high
A competitive amount of reimbursement would make it possible for us to properly care for these
children and to meet some of the expections.Plus,it would encourage foster parents to STAY with Weld
County and not go to private agencies;therefore saving the county a great deal of money!Foster
narentswith these agencies receive the following amounts as reimbursements:
PreCii,liio $800
Children's Network$1100-$1.500
Synthesis$940-$97 I(just to name a few)
Weld County could save thousands of dollars every month by giving it's foster parents a competitive
amount of reimbursement arid riot having to lay out big bucks for the high administrative costs per
child,and the dollars used to duplicate services already provided by the county. With some of the monies
saved new services could be provided that are unique to CPAs thereby making it more attractive to stay
with Weld County.
990//(0
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
0.10 Yrs. 14..18 Yrs
Allowed Act'tal Allowed Actual
FOOD 119 103 148 125
(low based on food bank usage)
CLOTHING S3 65 .56 75
(utilizing used clothing,clearance sales, al hand made)
SHELTER 124 171 135 171
(includes%'s of utilities,insurances,minor repairs,minor plumbing,window,supplies: doesn't include
carpet replacement,major plumbing repair,large bill repairs to cars,houses,etc.)
EDUCATION 6 11 20 30
(bulk buying during sales helps;cash handouts for field trips,class parties,year books($11 for middle
school,$40 for high school),class fees for jr/sr high,summer school tuition,and correspondence
courses needed to graduate are not included in these figures)
PERSONAL/ 47 120 20 150
ALLOWANCES(this category includes hygiene items,entertainment,birthday gifts,holiday gifts etc)
TOTAL 349 470 423 551
RESPITE 20 80 20 100
(figured at $20/day once a week) (figured at$25/day once a week)
(still impossible to find respited on teens)
MILEAGE 65 60
(low,we live next to the school our kids
attend)
(This category include going to Doctors,counselors,parental visits,to/from school and related
activites,jobs(older kids), to/from sports and other forms of entertainment)
We are expected to take the children out to eat(teaches social Ails-manners,behaviors,etc).
We are expected to take the children on vacations,giving them a feeling of'normal'family living.We are
expected to take the children to swimming lessons,recreational swimming,amusement parks,zoos,
skating,movies,anything and everything that a`normal'family does.We are encouraged to have the
children participate in sports/clubs.The dollars needed for these add up-a;shoes$75-125,uniforms
$.3.5-75,bussing $vary.
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99 /I&
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05/28/98
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