DFACS leaders hope building project will move forward soon
BY SHARON HOGAN
State funds have been allocated for a new Banks County Department of Family and Children Services building and leaders hope the project will move forward soon.
At a meeting last week, DFACS director Kenny Jarvis said state leaders have visited the current building and plans have been submitted to the state on the proposed new facility. Jarvis said he and Joe Watkins, with the Department of Human Resources, have presented plans for the new building to the State Properties Commission.
“I am hopeful that in the next two months we will see something happen,” Jarvis said.
In other business at last week’s meeting:
•Jarvis presented the county expense report for April. The county budget for the year is $33,784. Some $26,678, which represents 78.97 percent of the budget, was spent through April. Two months are left and Jarvis said he expects to come in under budget. “We should have a surplus of $1,000 to $1,300 left in county funds,” he said. “I would like to purchase six flat-screen monitors for the office.” Jarvis said he recently purchased some for the Stephens County office at a cost of $210 each. “I will do everything to stay within the budget,” Jarvis said. The vote to approve the purchase of the monitors passed unanimously.
•Jarvis presented the economic support services report for April. The report shows 53 applications for food stamps, nine applications for temporary assistant for needy families, 59 family Medicaid applications and three applications for childcare.
•Jarvis presented the monthly social services report for April. The department had 23 child protective services referrals for the month, 21 of these were accepted and two were screened out. Banks County has 13 children in legal custody, one child boarding the county and three supervision cases. Banks County has five foster homes available and two homes that are under study. One child was adopted during the month of April, Jarvis said.
•Jarvis reported that the annual foster parent appreciation banquet was held on Tuesday, May 20, at the Homer United Methodist Church, with five foster parent couples attending.
•Jarvis announced the Field Staff Awards banquet to be held on Wednesday night, May 21, in Atlanta.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the DFACS board will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, June 18, at the DFACS office.
