Nonprofit looks to expand into Southwest Virginia

GATE CITY – A nonprofit group operating transition homes for foster children wants to expand into Scott, Lee, and Wise counties and Norton.Brandy Martin, Southwest Virginia expansion coordinator for 501c(3) Isaiah117 House, asked the Scott County Board of Supervisors Wednesday to consider being a fiscal agent for the group's expansion into far Southwest Virginia.The group operates transition homes in 13 states, including four in upper East Tennessee.The houses act as a more comfortable setting for children removed from their homes by local social services departments, Marton said. Instead of a social services office, children are brought to the houses where they can clean up, receive clothing and toys and stay for up to 72 hours until they can be placed with foster families.The Isaiah 117 houses also contain work areas for social workers, Martin said. Foster families receiving children at the houses can access, car seats, cribs, children's luggage, school supplies and toys for the children instead of picking up a child and having to drive to stores.Martin said the houses also provide areas for supervised visitation between parents and children. Isaiah117 is in an expansion phase for Southwest Virginia, she added, with houses under construction Smyth and Washington counties and the city of Bristol and another in Russell County. A LENWISCO area house would be the organization's 63rd facility, she added.Martin said the group is also looking for a house or donation of land for one, as well as a local government willing to act as the facility's fiscal agent. She said she also has met with Lee and Wise county officials.District 4 Supervisor Michael Brickey said the county now has the former Virginia Cooperative Extension office in the Daniel Boone community available since Extension moved to Gate City. A Scott County facility also would be close to dedicated pediatric facilities where needed in foster care cases, he added.Martin said the Isaiah 117 houses are a good fit for residential areas.Social Services departments in Lee, Wise and Scott counties and Norton now handle approximately 250 children in foster care situations, Martin said, making a facility useful for the area.County Administrator Josh Wilson said that getting support from the other localities would be important if the supervisors decide to donate the house and act as the fiscal agent for the facility. He added that state opioid abatement funds could be eligible for use to support the project.