Children Services Levy Will Keep Vital Programs Going
Friday, October 23, 2009 7:30 PM
Jennifer Raines is making up for lost time.
Three years ago, this single mom of three children was diagnosed with uterine cancer.
After 10 stressful surgeries Raines had a breakdown.
"I showed up at their door with my kids. I don't think it is something any mom would intentionally do," Raines said.
Raines said she came to children services with no other options, but the staff here had a plan.
They placed her in a support program to help put her family back together.
Her children were placed in foster care, while Raines went to the Gladden Settlement House, for counseling and parenting classes.
Support services Franklin County Children Services said will be in jeopardy if voters don't approve Issue 4 next month.
Officials said they know the strain on everyone's budgets, but the 3.10-mill replacement levy accounts for more than one third of their budget, Seavert reported.
Issue 4 would cost the owner of a $100,000 home $28 more each year.
Raines said without the support when she most needed it, her family may not be around the dinner table today.
"There was one point I thought they weren't even going to come home because of all the struggles and obstacles that came my way, but I never gave up, they came back after 15 months and my case took three years to close."
Issue 4 is a 10-year levy. If it passes, the agency said it will not return to voters until
their second levy expires in 2014.
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