The Franklin County Children and Families Community Resource Board reached nearly every school-age child in the county last year.
FCCRB Chairman Chris Jensen told Franklin County commissioners during his annual report this week that through the board, which allocates funds from a quarter-cent sales tax to support children’s service programs, 97 percent of the 18,094 school-aged children received contact from a program.
Those programs included bullying prevention, substance abuse prevention, mental health services, therapy, pregnancy and teen parenting counseling, psychiatric services and more.
In 2011 the board allocated roughly $2.1 million in funds to 24 programs from 11 different agencies, Jensen said.
He said the board had administrative expenses of 2.91 percent.
This year the FCCRB has allocated $2.4 million to 27 programs offered by 14 different agencies.
“We have a variety of programs that serve very specific needs of the children,” Jensen said, “and our finance committee has done an excellent job in terms of budgeting wisely.”
The board had revenues roughly 5 percent higher than anticipated last year, he said.
That surplus was used to give one-time grants to pilot programs, Jensen said.
“One of the things the board is really active in doing is improving the quality of care (for children and families),” he said.
Commissioner Ann Schroeder praised the board and the programs it funds.
“This is the best thing that’s ever been established in Franklin County for helping our children,” Schroeder said.
She said collaboration between the FCCRB and other agencies which provide aid and services to children and families in need has improved the quality of life throughout the county.
“I hope everyone can see the true value and the wise decision voters made,” Jensen said.
Voters in the county approved the quarter-cent sales tax in 2008.
The board was established by the county commission to look at issues facing children’s services within the county.
