Program could get $30K for sex offender treatment

2-11-17 North Carolina:

The Juvenile Crime Prevention Council is poised to receive $30,000 in additional funding, providing the Iredell County Board of Commissioners approves the budget amendment at its Tuesday night meeting.

Initially, the NC Department of Public Safety allocated $50,000 to the Barium Springs Home for Children TASK (Treatment for Sexualized Kids) Program. The state appropriated more money “based on higher than expected utilization of the service,” according to a letter to the county from NCDPS.

“(TASK) offers services to clients (ages 10 to 17) who have been adjudicated for sexual offenses and are court ordered to participate in evaluations and/or treatment,” county records stated. “TASK provides a broad range of services to allow these youth to remain in their homes, promote safety in the community, and prevent further sexual abuse. Services include safety and treatment planning, case management, 24/7 on-call support, comprehensive evaluations, individual, group and family therapy.”

The additional money will be used to serve children in Iredell and Davie counties and will save the county $122 a day for juvenile detention facilities.

The funds do not require a county match. ..Continued.. by Jennifer Dandron