LAWRENCE COUNTY Officials increase foster family fee

Dr. Frank Farone was named to the county airport authority board.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Foster families in Lawrence County are getting a raise.
County commissioners increased the daily fee to $18 per child. Those caring for children with physical disabilities will now receive $22 per day.
The increases are an effort to attract more people to the county foster care program and cut back on using more expensive private agencies to house children, county officials said.
Lawrence County had been paying $12 a day for each child in foster care. Those caring for children with disabilities got $18 a day.
The county pays about $60 a day to private agencies who find foster families. Those agencies pay the families about $22 a day and keep the rest, said Jane Gaida, county children and youth services director.
Gaida estimates the county will save $907,280 a year if it is able to attract 10 new foster families and not use private agencies.
There are now approximately 60 children placed in foster homes through private agencies, she said. There are 16 foster families who work directly with the county, Gaida added.
Airport authority member
In other business, Dr. Frank Farone of New Castle was appointed to the Lawrence County Airport Authority board of directors. Farone is a medical doctor and a licensed pilot.
He replaces Tom George of New Castle who served two five-year terms on the authority, most recently as chairman.
George said he asked commissioners to find a replacement.
"I would have considered a couple more years if they couldn't find anybody, but I really felt it was time to move on," said George, who is a real estate developer.
George said under his tenure on the authority board, more than $12 million worth of improvements were made to the airport in Union Township, including new buildings and additional hangar space. He added that no local tax dollars were spent on the improvements.