Boone County News Release

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Boone County Children's Services Board Moves Toward Funding Decisions

September 26, 2014

The Boone County Children's Services Board met on Thursday, September 25, 2014, to discuss preliminary funding options on the Purchase of Service and the Pilot Program for Innovative Services proposals submitted by organizations focused on improving the well-being of children and families in Boone County. The deadline for Purchase of Service proposals was originally June 10, 2014 and the deadline for Pilot Program proposals was originally June 24, 2014. The Board responded to the overwhelming request of agencies to extend the response time to proposals and both proposal deadlines were extended to July 10, 2014.

Subcommittees of the Board extensively reviewed 58 proposals during the past eight weeks and provided the full Board 41 proposals from 25 organizations for further review and comments.

The Board has instructed the staff of the Boone County Community Services and Purchasing Departments to request additional information and clarification from some agencies in regard to their proposals. After receiving additional information from these agencies, the Board will proceed to choose the agencies with which to begin contract negotiations.

The proposals under consideration approximate a potential investment of $5.2 million into services that promote the well-being and safety of children and families in Boone County. The Board must make funding decisions in compliance with R.S.Mo. §210.861 which states funds may be invested to address the following needs:

• up to thirty days of temporary shelter for abused, neglected, runaway, homeless or emotionally disturbed youth
• respite care services
• unmarried parent services
• outpatient chemical dependency and psychiatric treatment programs
• counseling and related services as a part of transitional living programs
• home-based and community-based family intervention programs
• prevention programs which promote healthy lifestyles among children and youth and strengthen families
• crisis intervention services, inclusive of telephone hotlines
• individual, group, or family professional counseling and therapy services
• psychological evaluations
• mental health screenings

Proposals are being considered for investments into services that address the spectrum of needs authorized by statute and range from programs geared at early-childhood prevention efforts to extensive intervention services for children and families in crisis.

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