Family First Act: How new law beginning Oct. will limit Davidson County children's homes

Jul. 27—When you first look at the federally mandated Family First Prevention Services Act, which begins in North Carolina on Oct.1, it seems like a good idea.

It gives more money to various agencies dealing with the welfare of children to enhance mental health therapy, substance abuse counseling, and other prevention services so more children can stay safely at home with their families.

But while those benefits are positive, this new law is also stripping away support for children's homes and giving them a limited window to find permanent placement for these at-risk youths and adding extra burden on an already over-stretched foster care system.

The Family First Act, which was originally passed in 2018, will take effect in North Carolina in October. It includes provisions that limit federal funding on congregate care organizations, such as Baptist Children's Home in Thomasville and American Children's Home in Lexington.

Under this new rule, these children's homes will only have two weeks of federal funding unless that child has certain permissible needs to necessitate a congregate-care placement. Children who are already at the homes will not be affected.

North Carolina legislators have proposed $11 million in "bridge" funding in the state budget over the next two years to help organizations for the loss in federal revenue for the next two years, but it is only a temporary solution.

Keith Henry, Chief Operating Officer at Baptist Children's Home in Thomasville, says although the premise of Family First is sound, the implementation that labels all congregate care under one blanket is an ill fit.

"When you talk about "residential care" for children it is like saying I drive a car; there are so many different varieties," said Henry.

He said that Baptist Children's Home has been gearing up its foster care program, working with local churches and other groups to recruit more foster parents. They also work closely with the Department of Social Services to increase family reunification, but these solutions don't always work, especially if you only have 14 days to find a solution.

"Our folks at DSS are great and they do the best they can, but if you only have two weeks and the family is not ready for reunification yet what do you do? What if there is a large sibling group and there isn't a foster family willing to take all of them? In many cases this is doing more harm to the child rather than just letting them stay with us a bit longer," said Henry.

Henry said that even though most of the children who are placed at Baptist Children's Home are returned to their family, placed in permeant foster care, or adopted, there are those children who benefit from living at the home until they are adults.

"A large number of our children do go home because the family hit a rough spot and that child is temporarily removed. But then there are those families who can't pull it together. For some, cottage care is a viable option and these kids develop a deep relationship with their house parents that continue when to when they are adults. Everyone should be figuring out what is best for the child, not just one size fits all," said Henry.

Paulina Hanner is now 30-years-old, married with a daughter. She has a master's degree from UNC-Chapel Hill and works as a social worker for Davie County Schools. From outward appearances, you would never know that she spend her teen years living at Baptist Children's Home in Thomasville.

She said although her situation was different because her parents actually placed her at the home while retaining custodianship, her experiences mirrored those of the other residents.

"Everyone's experience is different, but for me, it was a positive experience," said Hanner.

She said when she was around 14-years-old her mother and adoptive father's marriage was dissolving and she witnessed a lot of verbal abuse and other dysfunctional behaviors. Initially, she was placed at BCH as a temporary solution while her mother relocated to another state, but due to some lingering issues, it was decided she would remain there until she graduated high school.

Hanner said although it was a difficult situation, she really came to appreciate the love and support she received, and the bond she made with the different house parents and the other children.

"I was torn because I wanted to be back home, but I had adjusted and felt supported. Within a year, I had made friends and relationships with my house parents and counselors. For the first time, I felt something was met for me. I had stability and could participate in sports at a school, I could get a job and save up money for a car," said Hanner.

She said she also learned a lot of life skills, like cooking and having a budget. She also said she learned what unconditional love felt like.

"It went beyond my well-being needs were met, it was the feeling of having someone completely love you as if they were their own. That feeling of love and reassurance pushed me to think about my relationship with my faith and being in a safe environment during a vulnerable time in my life," said Hanner.

She said she still keeps in touch with several of her "cottage parents" and they were present at her college graduations, as well as her wedding.

Hanner said she is concerned about the limitations the Family First law will have on children's homes.

"I think it will be tricky to navigate; you can't really put a time stamp on these kinds of things. Even before this legislation, it has been so difficult to find and maintain foster parents...Every need is not uniform; every need does not look the same. There are many different variables it is hard to make it systematic and focus on the priory of meeting kid's needs," said Hanner.

Kathy Berrier, CEO and president of American Children's Home in Lexington, they have been anxiously waiting to see how this new legislation will impact their organization's ability to serve at-risk kids.

"It has made the last four years very difficult because no one understood what it meant. The intent is wonderful, but they kind of threw the baby out with the bathwater when they included children's homes," said Berrier.

She said in an effort to assure there are enough resources, ACH has been recruiting foster parents in the faith-based communities, as well as, reaching out to local benefactors for additional support.

Berrier said the issuance of the two-week time limit could be restrictive, especially for older children who don't always fit into the mold set forth in the new law.

"Many of our kids have been with us for a long time; many have had failed placements. A lot of time these kids just need a little more structure or support than a foster home. Foster kids get moved around a lot, here they live like a family and get support from caring adults," said Berrier.

She said there have been many "home kids" from AMC who have gone on to lead successful lives. The most famous of these was Eddie Smith, founder of National Wholesale and namesake of the Lexington Civic Center.

But she said they don't have to grow up and become millionaires to be considered a success. She said just this year they had three of their residents graduate from high school. They all have jobs and two are going on to community college.

She said one of them was a young man who had been with them for a year after multiple failed placements and was on the verge of dropping out of school. She said with the stability of the children's home and the career readiness program they provide, he ended up with a diploma and a passion.

"He had gotten behind and we weren't sure he was going to graduate," said Berrier. "But when he was learning what job opportunities were out there, he made a transformation. He was on the verge of dropping out and the spark was lit by HVAC."

Berrier said regardless of how this new law limits funding for children's homes, AMC will find a way to make sure their needs are met.

"Our goal is to continue paring children with success in life," said Berrier. "Even if they only stay here a short while hopefully, we have given them tools to cope and to grow. The need is not going to go away. American Children's Home is focusing on doing what is best for the children no matter where the funding comes from."

For more information or to apply to become a foster parent, go to www.co.davidson.nc.us/402/Foster-Care-Adoption.

General news reporter Sharon Myers can be reached at sharon.myers@the-dispatch.com. Follow her on Twitter @LexDispatchSM.

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