Montgomery County Children Services says it spends an average:
$115,464 a year per child cared for in a residential facility. These facilities cater to a child’s specific needs.
$53,112 a year per child cared for in a group home, which provides a more intimate setting.
$33,684 a year per child cared for in a contract home – private firms that the county uses.
$8,040 a year per child in an agency home. These are homes of individual foster homes.
DAYTON — As a cornerback for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, LaVar Glover often views life like a football game.
So, the first thing that came to his mind when his mother told him his teenage brother had quit school years ago was that someone had fumbled a snap and it was time for a new play.
Glover was a student and football player at the University of Cincinnati at the time, but decided to take custody of his brother. Glover knew the task would be challenging, but felt it was the best option.
“This is my brother. This is our family. We can’t let him just settle for nothing and fall and be another statistic,” Glover said.
Glover’s plan worked. His brother eventually graduated from a Cincinnati high school.
Glover, who also played for the Cincinnati Bengals (2002-2003) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (2002), wants other young males to experience success, too. That’s one of the reasons why he started his group home, the Glover Youth Program.
“My main focus is just to get them back to being regular kids. (To) come back with their families, if that is the best option,” Glover said.
He also wants to inspire the young males.
“My mission is to uplift an attitude, inspire goals and basically educate, mentor and (be a) role model. The same thing that I experienced with my younger brother, that’s all I am trying to do here.”
As of Friday, Glover had a staff of at least six people and was serving three boys ages 15-17.
“His organization is pretty common, other than the fact that it’s in Montgomery County where few of these type of group homes exist,” said Ann Stevens, spokeswoman for the county’s Job and Family Services Department.
As of May 13, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reported there were 506 children living in group homes across the state, according to Ben Johnson, state spokesman.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2414 or kwynn@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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