Committee approves probation-led Raise-the-Age contracts with local provider

The Public Safety Committee on Sept. 3 approved probation-led contracts with Core Learning Center to support three juvenile-services staff positions, including a youth court director, under the State'administered SGSJP Raise-the-Age (RTA) program. Scott Grama, director of county probation, moved the measure and the committee carried it without recorded opposition.

Grama said the county plans to launch the locally run intervention program Oct. 1 and to use the contracts to fund three positions to support probation'involved youth. "We're looking to get permission to move forward with the contracts with CORE to support 3 positions there, 1 of which would be a youth court director position," he told the committee.

The vote authorizes the county to enter contracts with Core Learning Center and to submit the county's SGSJP RTA plan to the state Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). Grama told the committee the SGSJP grant funding mix for the program is roughly 62% state and 38% local and that a separate RTA reimbursement stream will cover some costs at 100% for 16- and 17-year-olds. Committee member Ms. Burdick asked about the local contribution; Grama said an $85,000 county share is budgeted in 2026 for the program.

Why it matters: the change shifts previously outsourced contract work to a probation-led, locally focused delivery model that the director said will emphasize local service providers and direct interventions for youth and families who come through PINS and juvenile-delinquency referrals.

Supporting details: Grama said the county had in prior years outsourced SGSJP-funded services "with mixed results" and that the new approach emphasizes contracts with local providers. He described coordination with the county Department of Social Services and with local stakeholders during planning and said the plan will be submitted to OCFS as the state's SGSJP/RTA funding requires. Grama noted the October launch date and said the budgeted $85,000 county share was included in the 2026 projections.

Discussion vs. decision: the transcript records a formal motion by Grama ("I'll move it") and a second (not identified by name), followed by a voice vote in which the committee chair called for ayes and declared the motion carried. No individual roll-call votes or abstentions were recorded in the transcript.

Next steps: contracts will be executed with Core Learning Center and the county will submit the SGSJP/RTA plan to OCFS; the article does not record any additional follow-up tasks or a timetable beyond the Oct. 1 launch date stated by Grama.