Juvenile Justice Center seeks $19,500 IOCS grant to continue Family Recovery Court

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners on April 22 approved a grant application to the Indiana Office of Court Services (IOCS) requesting $19,500 to continue the Family Recovery Court program for fiscal year 2026.

Tara Payano, director of operations at the Juvenile Justice Center’s probate court, said the request is based on the 2024 CHINS (child in need of services) caseload of 570 new filings and the program’s provisional certification. "The amount requested is $19,500. It is based on the 2024 CHINS caseload, which is 570 new filings," Payano said. She added the program is undergoing certification and is currently provisionally certified.

Commissioners voted to approve the grant application (Commissioner Morton — aye; Commissioner Hazen — aye; Commissioner Maxeyer — aye). Payano said the provisional certification lasts one year and IOCS will revisit the program before full certification; she said the certification status appears promising but did not guarantee final certification.

The grant application seeks funding to continue Family Recovery Court services that serve CHINS families where parental substance use disorder is a primary factor in court involvement. No award decision from IOCS was reported at the meeting; the board’s action authorized staff to submit the application.