2018-165 Cumberland Children's HomeDate: November 9, 2018 Report No. 2018-165
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
On October 23, 2018 during concluding items, Council Member Armintor requested a staff
report to give an overview of what Cumberland Presbyterian Children's Home is, and any future
potential partnership opportunities.
BACKGROUND:
Cumberland Presbyterian Children's Home is a local non-profit community center that provides long
term and emergency residential care for children in foster care and transitional housing for single
parent families in crisis all while ensuring each child and family in their care receives counseling,
case management and other supportive services. Cumberland’s 17 acre facility is home to programs
and services providing hope and healing to the most vulnerable children and families within our
community.
Due to the different programs and funding sources that Cumberland Presbyterian Children's
Home implements, staff asked Cumberland Presbyterian Children's Home President & CEO
Courtney Banatoski, to provide the information requested by CM Armintor. The discussion
information attached as Exhibit 1 was respectfully submitted by President & CEO Courtney
Banatoski.
DISCUSSION:
In addition to the information provided to staff by Cumberland Presbyterian Children's Home in
Exhibit 1, staff can add the following information to describe how the City has worked with
Cumberland and supported the agency.
• 2004-2005 HOME Funds $350,000 were provided for the construction of two new
duplex (4 units) for the Single Parent Family Program, which provides assistance to
homeless or potentially homeless single parents. Project is located within the
Cumberland Property and will be carried out by Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s
Home. Per HOME Partnership Investment Funds requirement, staff provides ongoing
training to ensure compliance with HOME-assisted rental housing projects. There is a
20 year lien on property until August 14, 2025.
• 2015 Cumberland requested $7,750 and was awarded $7,750 in CDBG Funds for
facility renovation on their medical/dental clinic. Cumberland cancelled the project.
Funds were reallocated.
• 2016 Cumberland requested $15,315 and was awarded $15,315 in CDBG Funds
for facility renovation on their kitchen. Cumberland cancelled the project. Funds
were reallocated.
• Human Services Grant Funding: The City of Denton provided public services grant
funding FY04-05 for the salary of a social worker for their Single Parent Family
Program.
Date: November 9, 2018 Report No. 2018-165
• Notification of Funding: Cumberland will be notified of the upcoming Community
Development Grant and Human Services Grant periods should they want to request
grant funds for 2019-2020.
ATTACHMENT(S):
Exhibit 1 - Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home Information Document by President &
CEO Courtney Banatoski
STAFF CONTACT:
Alma Espino
Housing Programs Manager
940-349-7756
Alma.Espino@CityofDenton.com
Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home
We provide long term and emergency residential care for children in foster care and transitional housing
for single parent families in crisis all while ensuring each child and family in our care receives counseling,
case management and other supportive services. Our 17 acre facility is home to programs and services
providing hope and healing to the most vulnerable children and families within our community.
Long Term Residential Care
Cumberland has two cottages that provide long term residential care for foster care youth. Beginning
January 2019, we anticipate serving 18 foster care children ages 11‐17 with specialized, moderate and
basic levels of care. Please note, providing a specialized level of care is a new program design for
Cumberland. Children who need specialized level of care have severe problems in one or more areas of
functioning, including: unpredictable, non‐violent, anti‐social acts, physical aggression, withdrawal and
isolation, self‐injurious actions, primary diagnosis of substance abuse or dependency, developmental
delays or intellectual disabilities, medical or habilitative needs that require assistance. Please reference
here for additional information regarding levels of care.
Beyond long term residential care, CPCH treatment team and chaplain provides case management,
weekly counseling with on‐site therapists, life skills training, mentoring, culturally competent activities,
spiritual development, access to individualized therapeutic activities and access to medical, dental and
behavioral health.
The average length of stay for long term residential care is approximately one year.
Emergency Shelter Program
Cumberland has one cottage that provides emergency shelter for foster care youth. Beginning in
January 2019, we anticipate serving eight children ages 5‐17 in our emergency shelter. The length of
stay for emergency shelter is up to 90 days.
CPCH’s treatment team and chaplain also provides case management, weekly counseling with on‐site
therapists, life skills training, culturally competent activities, spiritual development, and access to
medical, dental and behavioral health.
Single Parent Family Program
Cumberland’s Single Parent Family Program provides transitional housing for families in crisis while they
work toward self‐sufficiency and independence. We have four duplexes on campus that serve eight
families and 36 children between them.
Eligibility for the Single Parent Family Program require participants be at or below 80% of the HUD
income limits for their family size, have full custody of at least one child, be employed or in school full
time, have a reliable transportation, must pass a criminal background check and drug test and must be
willing to fully participate in weekly case management, counseling and parenting classes.
The average length of stay for single parent families is one year. Rent (all bills paid) is set on a graduated
scale totaling $5,200 annually with up to $1,000 savings incentive returned to participants upon goal
completion and graduation from the program.
Cumberland currently has one half of a duplex building on campus designated as a housing choice voucher
option and it us currently occupied by a graduate of the Single Parent Family Program. The occupant no
longer needs weekly case management, counseling and other supportive services and this option as a
transition works well. Occupants of all housing choice vouchers on the Cumberland campus require
passing a criminal background check and drug testing.
Partnerships
Earlier this month Cumberland partnered with local nonprofit Zoie’s Place with the intent to extend the
continuum of care for foster care youth when they age out of the foster care system at 18 and to best
utilize Cumberland campus assets. Zoie’s Place signed a two‐year lease of a Cumberland housing unit on
our campus that will provide four beds for Supervised Independent Living and transitional services to
homeless youth aging out of foster care. All occupants must pass a criminal background check and drug
testing.
Need
Cumberland’s largest need continues to be operating support for direct services to foster care children
and families in crisis. Cumberland relies primarily on Texas Department of Family and Protective
Services (TDFPS) reimbursements and fundraises through major gifts and grants to make up the balance.
TDFPS reimburses based on level of care. Currently the reimbursement rate for a basic level of care is
$45 per day per child; $103 per day per child for moderate care or $197 per day per child for specialized
care. In comparison, the General Services Administration standard rates in the State of Texas are $94
per night for lodging and $55 per day for food. Let us be clear, the State provides $45‐$197 per day for
shelter, food and treatment care for our most vulnerable children – those in foster care, but if you are a
State employee traveling on business the State reimburses you $149 daily just for lodging and meals.
Clearly, the TDFPS reimbursement rates are not covering the cost of direct care. Covering the cost of
direct care has been Cumberland’s challenge for many years.
Opportunities
While we serve approximately 100 children and families annually, the sad fact is that the need far
exceeds our capacity. In September 2018 (our most recent data) there were 288 children in foster care
within Denton County and in May 2017 (our most recent data) there were 1,021 people on wait lists for
housing choice vouchers. There are several opportunities for partnership to address the residential and
treatment needs of foster care children and families in crisis:
Partnering with the City of Denton or other community partners to build additional Single
Parent Family duplexes on our campus.
Partnering with the City of Denton or other community partners to build additional Supervised
Independent Living houses on our campus to expand our partnership with Zoie’s Place and
provide additional transitional services to those who have aged out of the foster care system.
We currently have half of a duplex that could become a housing choice voucher residence.