Virginia
Roanoke City has the most kids in foster care across Virginia
ROANOKE, Va. – There are greater than 700 youngsters who’re prepared for adoption in Virginia. They’re able to discover a everlasting and loving eternally household. 10 Information is profiling one baby who wants a house day-after-day throughout the hours of 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. in 30 Days of Hope. The kids are of all ages and races and had been put into foster care because of no fault of their very own. 2022 marks the sixth yr 10 Information is doing this collection.
Roanoke Metropolis has the very best variety of youngsters in foster care throughout Virginia. It’s been that method for nearly a yr, with the numbers climbing. In September, Roanoke Metropolis had 5.4% of the whole variety of youngsters in care throughout the Commonwealth at 273 youngsters.
“Our of us are simply dealing with emergency after emergency,” stated Sue Reese, the Household Companies Supervisor for Roanoke Metropolis Division of Social Companies.
Roanoke Metropolis has probably the most youngsters in foster care, regardless of our smaller inhabitants. At a inhabitants of about 100,000, Roanoke has almost 300 youngsters in care. In comparison with locations like Fairfax County and Virginia Seashore with populations 4 to 10 instances the scale, and 100 fewer youngsters in foster care.
“We do have 277 youngsters in foster care that’s excessive for us,” stated Reese.
It’s been that method since December. The Division of Social Companies is the company known as on to step in when a toddler must be faraway from a house.
“The very last thing we need to do is take a toddler into care,” stated Reese.
“No household is similar. No baby is similar. However as a part of that, it’s additionally very tense as in you’re figuring out the place a toddler goes and if a toddler is secure at that place that you simply ship them,” stated Marlene Carlson, a CPS Investigator, who’s seeing the uptick in calls first hand.
“It’s type of nerve-wracking, exhibiting as much as some folks’s homes of like, you realize what are you strolling into? What do you count on?” stated Carlson. “If it’s the protection of a kid, it’s a must to work out that day like can that baby go house as we speak to this member of the family. Do they should go to a different member of the family, simply because there are issues at house on the time? So figuring that out is barely tense.”
It’s additionally placing a pressure on the finances. The general social providers finances for this yr is $26.5 million.
“It does put some pressure on the division, and we’re not alone in that. That’s a statewide problem as all the time, with each locality. Proper now. We’re we now have and different locations have a problem with recruitment and retention. Our caseloads are excessive right here,” stated Reese.
“I believe everybody has seen a rise of their caseload. We don’t have sufficient folks to you realize, deal with this quantity of calls,” stated Carlson.
Over time, prices have elevated considerably. Roanoke Metropolis is simply 4 months into the fiscal yr, they usually’ve already used greater than 90% of the additional time finances.
It’s costing much more to drug check folks. The finances is now greater than $40,000, up from nearly $8,000 final yr. With the rise in Fentanyl use in our space, the common value of a drug check to seize the data wanted for a case determination has elevated from roughly $150 to a possible $310.
Reese says they’re seeing the next:
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Substance abuse touches greater than 95% of the circumstances
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Psychological well being is one other problem — whether or not they’re untreated, underrated, or not even identified
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Home violence circumstances are additionally up
“I actually couldn’t speculate on why Roanoke Metropolis is perhaps larger in foster care as a result of our employees do a wonderful job attempting to divert that from taking place. However we do err on the aspect of security when there’s ever a query of a kid’s security; we do err on the aspect of security moderately than not,” stated Reese.
“I’ve seen a rise in my numbers,” stated Whitney Caldwell, a Roanoke Metropolis DSS Senior Household Companies Specialist. “It positively is a job that may be very overwhelming and tense.”
Caldwell works with households as soon as youngsters are in foster care and there aren’t sufficient foster houses.
“The necessity is nice all around the state. We do want foster mother and father to assist with this. We do want neighborhood assist to assist assist these youngsters and households. We’re working laborious at that, and we’re grateful for any assist that we get,” stated Reese.
“With the rise in numbers, we’re filling up foster houses in a short time. There’s all the time a necessity for a foster household, and it’s all the time overwhelming when a toddler comes into care and we simply have restricted choices for that baby,” stated Caldwell.
Locality | Variety of Children in Foster Care (September 2022) |
Inhabitants from 2020 Census |
---|---|---|
Roanoke Metropolis | 273 | 100,011 |
Fairfax County | 198 | 1,150,309 |
Virginia Seashore | 196 | 459,470 |
Richmond | 193 | 226,610 |
Lynchburg | 180 | 79,009 |
Norfolk | 176 | 238,005 |
Rockingham County | 150 | 83,757 |
Henrico County | 117 | 334,389 |
Albemarle County | 101 | 112,395 |
Roanoke County *doesn’t embrace Salem |
100 | 96,929 |
Roanoke has had the very best variety of youngsters in foster care since December 2021. Earlier than that, town had the second-highest variety of youngsters in care from January -November 2021, tying for the very best spot for a kind of months. 10 Information didn’t have a look at knowledge previous to 2021.
Reese says greater than 100 households are on the cusp of getting the kids eliminated however proper now they’re getting in-home or prevention providers to stop that from taking place. If these youngsters had been eliminated, it will add to the numbers.
“These of us, they work with new moms with infants, perhaps typically substance-exposed infants. They work with truancy points, they assess the wants of the households and make referrals after which monitor these referrals for counseling, substance abuse therapy. We’re in a position to put in place intensive in-home providers that work many, many hours of the week with the recognized baby or youngsters and with the household as a complete,” stated Reese.
Reese stated Roanoke Metropolis additionally receives quite a lot of reduction of custody petitions via the courts and tries to get the kid and household into counseling, and even residential therapy if wanted. Town can entry funds via the Kids’s Companies Act and the kid doesn’t must be in foster care. Most of those youngsters are over the age of 13.
“Typically they [legal guardians] really feel that they will not handle the kid. They’re overwhelmed with the kid’s wants or habits and lots of instances we will join them with the fitting providers, perhaps psychological well being providers or perhaps even residential therapy and the kid doesn’t have to come back into care to obtain these providers,” stated Reese.
When you’ve got questions on foster care/adoption, contact VDSS Division of Household Companies Adoption Recruitment Coordinator, at adoptioninquiries@dss.virginia.gov.
To see different 30 Days of Hope tales go to us right here.
We even have a listing of steadily requested questions on foster care and adoption together with the {qualifications}, value, and coaching required on this hyperlink.
Copyright 2022 by WSLS 10 – All rights reserved.
Virginia
Virginia Beach mayor wants a collective bargaining referendum on November ballot
VIRGINIA BEACH — Residents could influence a future decision on collective bargaining for city employees by casting a vote on Election Day.
Mayor Bobby Dyer said Tuesday he wants an advisory referendum on collective bargaining on the November ballot. The outcome of such a referendum would be non-binding.
The City Council denied collective bargaining of city employees in a 5-5 vote with one abstention April 30. Dyer was among those who voted against it.
“Last week we had a divisive subject on collective bargaining,” said Dyer at Tuesday’s meeting. “How do we really confront this in a way that we are capable of doing?”
Dyer had said before the vote that the timing wasn’t right due to the potential costs, but he supported a more enhanced “meet and confer” process than what currently exists, which would require communication with the council.
Police officers, firefighters, emergency medical services and public works personnel wanted to negotiate better wages and enhanced employment conditions. The city received certification from a majority of public employees in a unit requesting collective bargaining in February, requiring a formal vote on the matter.
It’s likely the council will have to take up collective bargaining again. Other employee groups can trigger a council vote again by presenting certification from a majority of it public employees, according to union representatives.
To get the referendum on the ballot, it will require a majority vote from the council. Dyer plans to bring it up for a discussion and a vote after the budget is approved this month, he said.
The light rail referendum that failed in 2016 was also advisory.
Dyer also said Tuesday he plans to ask for the city to commission a collective bargaining analysis that could be presented before November.
“This would give us the opportunity to get information out to the public to bring them into the decision loop,” the mayor said.
Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com
Virginia
Counties with the most homes selling under list price in Virginia
It’s a tough time to be in the market for a new house. But as peak homebuying season begins, homebuyers are starting to have at least some negotiating power—especially in markets that recorded large price growth over the last few years.
The average 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage rose above 7% at the start of November 2022, the highest level in more than a decade, as the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark rates to combat inflation. Today, rates remain at historic highs; even half of a percentage point change can significantly affect the monthly payments required for a mortgage.
Since mortgage rates were under 4% for the better part of the past decade, many homebuyers locked in far more affordable rates than what’s available in today’s environment. And sellers aren’t exactly coming down on price: Nationally, home prices are still increasing—just more slowly than they did during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nationally, the median home sale price in March was $420,321, 4.8% higher than the year before. In Virginia, the median sale price was $432,000, while the average price difference was 0.02% below asking.
Stacker compiled a list of counties in Virginia where homes typically sell below list price using data from Redfin.
#9. Spotsylvania County
– Average price difference: 0.08% below list
— Median list price: $449,000
— Median sale price: $445,000
– Total homes sold: 141
— Share that sold above list: 41.8%
#8. James City County
– Average price difference: 0.10% below list
— Median list price: $499,999
— Median sale price: $420,000
– Total homes sold: 111
— Share that sold above list: 33.3%
#7. Suffolk
– Average price difference: 0.14% below list
— Median list price: $420,000
— Median sale price: $394,399
– Total homes sold: 165
— Share that sold above list: 40.0%
#6. Virginia Beach
– Average price difference: 0.15% below list
— Median list price: $369,950
— Median sale price: $370,000
– Total homes sold: 465
— Share that sold above list: 44.9%
#5. Norfolk
– Average price difference: 0.41% below list
— Median list price: $315,000
— Median sale price: $303,250
– Total homes sold: 290
— Share that sold above list: 39.0%
#4. Augusta County
– Average price difference: 0.91% below list
— Median list price: $309,900
— Median sale price: $289,900
– Total homes sold: 123
— Share that sold above list: 36.6%
#3. Roanoke County
– Average price difference: 1.02% below list
— Median list price: $292,500
— Median sale price: $245,000
– Total homes sold: 239
— Share that sold above list: 33.9%
#2. Portsmouth
– Average price difference: 1.04% below list
— Median list price: $260,000
— Median sale price: $257,250
– Total homes sold: 136
— Share that sold above list: 43.4%
#1. Frederick County
– Average price difference: 1.12% below list
— Median list price: $439,900
— Median sale price: $426,500
– Total homes sold: 160
— Share that sold above list: 21.2%
This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 28 states.
© Stacker 2024. All rights reserved.
Virginia
Virginia Tech students take initiative to address mental health crisis
BLACKSBURG, Va. – A crisis on college campuses around the country.
A new Wiley research study published this year shows more than 80% of college students say they’re struggling emotionally.
When Jilly Riccio was in high school, she lost her close friend Jamison Novello in a way she never imagined.
“One of my friends died by suicide. That’s why it struck a chord and stuck with me, and that’s why I’ve been so passionate about it.”
During that time, Riccio was a part of her school’s SAFE Club — a way to talk openly about suicide, and mental health. But when she got to Virginia Tech, she quickly realized there was nothing close to that on campus.
Spring of last year, she decided to take matter’s into her own hands, creating the SAFE Club at Virginia Tech.
“It’s been really successful, and almost like therapy for me,” Riccio said.
10 News sat down with students at Virginia Tech to see how the mental health crisis impacts them.
Junior Jackie Mitchell said she wasn’t aware of the extent of her mental health problems until college.
“My mom was just like, ‘Oh you just have the jitters,’ but I came to Virginia Tech and was like, ‘I’m going to try therapy since it’s a free option,’ and they said, ‘You have anxiety,’” Mitchell said.
As Jackie told 10 News, anxiety for her wasn’t just ‘the jitters.’
“My body would physically shut down,” she said.
Abby Conner is the Communications Chair for the Clear Minds Project at Virginia Tech.
She said she hears students say time and time again, they feel alone.
“Some people are like, ‘Oh my issue isn’t that big,’ but to you, it is. It’s the biggest thing going on in your life,” Conner said.
Conner, her friend Aiden Williams, along with other students on campus created the Clear Minds Project this semester to bring awareness to resources for mental health, as well as help students navigate them.
“Mental health stuff especially, the insurance is terrible in Virginia, so it’s really complicated. Any information we can provide about that, we’re trying to do,” Williams said.
The Clear Minds Project, along with the SAFE Club, are just some of the resources for struggling students.
They appreciate and support the counseling efforts from Virginia Tech, but tell us they recognize how important community with other students is for healing.
“When you hear a student that has gone through something similar as you or can relate to you, because then you really do feel less alone. When you realize there’s a club, there’s a whole community where you can go to and you don’t even really have to say anything, you just have them there, I think that’s so important,” Riccio said.
Copyright 2024 by WSLS 10 – All rights reserved.
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