The Court Appointed Special Advocates of Kern County were able to find permanent families for 15 abused, neglected and abandoned children in the court system in 2014.

Colleen McGauley is the executive director of the group and says her agency saved Kern County about $208,000 last year.

“(That’s) because these children are no longer in these foster care homes, which the county pays 40 percent of the total bill,” she said.

McGauley says monthly foster care rates can be as high as $8,000.

– Anthony Pollreisz