James Benson, integrated care coordinator for the Champaign County Redeploy Initiative, told the Urbana City Council on July 28 that the local Redeploy program — operating since January 2023 in Champaign County — offers a community‑based alternative sentence for youths who otherwise might be committed to the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice.

Benson described a multidisciplinary team that includes a part‑time clinical case manager, a case manager for service coordination, and a family engagement specialist. Eligibility requires Champaign County residency, ages 13–17, a charge eligible under the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, and completion of a strengths‑based “goals” assessment (formerly known as YASI). The program’s target capacity is 16 youths and it reported 10 active participants at the time of the presentation.

Benson emphasized flexible, family‑centered supports: staff provide transportation for probation and medical appointments (the coordinator jokingly referred to his vehicle as the “Benson bus”), emergency assistance for food and utilities, tutoring partnerships to address academic deficits, and psychological assessments through local clinicians. Clinical evaluations are arranged when mental‑health needs are flagged; Redeploy partners with local providers including Cunningham Children’s Home and referrals to Dr. Dionisha Grissom for formal psychological testing.

Funding and impact: Benson said Redeploy is funded through the Illinois Department of Human Services (a state funding stream tied to the statewide Redeploy program). He said Redeploy has contributed to a drop in the number of youth sentenced to IDJJ in Champaign County: during FY25 the county baseline for IDJJ commitments was 28; the county ended the fiscal year with 8 commitments, which Redeploy staff cited as an indicator of local success. Redeploy staff also noted systemic challenges: caregiver engagement, transportation barriers, building local partnerships, and adapting to a lead‑agency change when Cunningham became the fiscal and administrative lead.

Council members and the mayor commended the program’s rapid community work and noted opportunities for city connections. Benson said there was no direct financial request at the meeting but asked that the council and city partners be aware of Redeploy as a potential referrals and collaboration partner. He said the program’s flexibility in paying for basic needs is critical to stabilizing families and enabling youth to comply with probation terms.

Next steps: Redeploy will continue outreach with community partners and the judiciary and expects to expand services as partnerships and referrals increase. Staff indicated they will follow up with the mayor’s office and local mentors regarding family‑support initiatives.