Lycoming County commissioners approved a slate of 2025–26 agreements for juvenile residential, foster and transitional services, including contracts with Alternative Living Solutions, Clear Visions, Daimlers United, KidsPeace and Dietcom Family Life Services.

County staff said the 2025–26 contract with Alternative Living Solutions sets the transitional-living and supervised-independent-living per diem at $2.74 per day and that there is no rate increase this year. The presenter reported Clear Visions’ residential rate at about $2.4582 per day and described that as a 9.5% increase over the prior year. For Daimlers United, staff said the contract covers foster-care and transitional services (age 14 and up) with varied per-diem rates and multiple rate changes, including large increases in specialized medical care they listed as 36.4%, 40%, 3% and 17% for different categories. KidsPeace’s contract was presented with no rate increases, and Dietcom Family Life Services was presented with a 4% increase.

A commissioner asked whether Daimlers United justified the large increases; staff replied that the provider cited general inflation and rising costs and that the county retains the vendor on contract even if it is seldom used. Commissioners approved the agreements during the meeting.

Staff characterized some vendors as used frequently and others as “kept in our back pocket” to avoid repeated contract amendments if a placement becomes necessary. For Dietcom Family Life Services, staff noted many bills are covered through Medical Assistance and are not usually billed to the county directly.

The board approved the motions for each contract in succession. Commissioners did not direct additional study of provider rate-setting during the session, although one commissioner requested clarification on usage and justification for increases during the discussion.