Riverbend Place reported zero July admissions; committee hears behavioral and safety reasons for deferrals

Julie Driscoll, a staff member, told the Health and Human Services Committee on Wednesday, July 30, that Riverbend Place received eight referrals between June 20 and July 22 but accepted none into its residential program.

The update, included in the committee packet, showed no admissions or discharges in July and a current census of six youth: four from Washington County and two from out of county. Committee members were told Riverbend provided a late report listing reasons for deferrals and nonacceptance.

Driscoll said the synthesized report identified three recurring categories for deferral: assessments indicating aggressive behavior and related safety concerns; histories of suicidal ideation or self-harming behavior; and youth judged to be "not a good fit" for the center's "milieu." She said the committee has "continued to press Norris for providing us information on what those deferral reasons are" and that the committee received a report late the previous day attempting to synthesize those reasons. Driscoll also said Riverbend staff "don't seem to have a tolerance for youth with behaviors," language she used to summarize why some referrals were declined.

The report showed seven explicit deferrals and one youth in a status described as "potentially being accepted" but who was not fully accepted; Driscoll summarized that, as of the report, zero new youth had been admitted. She noted referrals were coming from multiple sources, which she said reflected statewide interest in the program, but that referral volume had not translated into admissions.

No committee action on Riverbend admissions was recorded in the meeting transcript. The committee did move to go into closed session; the motion to go into closed session was made by Supervisor Bossert and seconded by Supervisor Troutner, and a roll call vote was begun, but the transcript does not record the vote outcome.

Clarifying details recorded in the meeting packet and stated at the meeting include the report date range (June 20–July 22), the count of eight additional referrals in July, the census of six youth at Riverbend Place (four Washington County, two out of county), and that there were no admissions and no discharges during July.