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Commissioners approve children‑and‑youth contracts and appoint new advisory board member
Summary
The Board appointed Dr. Dakota Peterson to the Children & Youth Services advisory board and approved five contracts for placement and in‑home services for youth, covering residential and specialized programs.
Lawrence County commissioners on July 29 appointed Dr. Dakota Peterson to the county Children & Youth Services advisory board for a three‑year term and approved five contract renewals and placements used by the county’s child welfare system.
Mike Dripo, representing Children & Youth Services (CYS), asked the Board to consider the appointment; the Board approved it by roll call. Dripo also presented renewal and placement contracts (resolutions 209 through 213) that county staff said provide residential placements and in‑home services. Lisa Haddad of juvenile probation and other CYS staff were present for the item.
Why it matters: the contracts provide placements and services used when children are under county supervision, including residential programs, gender‑specific placements and specialized treatment for higher‑need juveniles. County officials said they maintain standby or backup agreements in case of urgent placement needs outside normal hours.
CYS staff described the contracts as renewals or backup placements. Among the providers were Lawrence County Social Services (in‑home services), Ward Home Inc. (group model/back‑up placements), Community Specialists Corporation doing business as The Academy (female residential programming), Summit Schools/Summit Academy (residential with drug and alcohol program elements) and White Deer Run/Cove Prep (a facility used for specialized placements involving civil commitment evaluations). Lisa Haddad said Cove Prep is “a very specialized program” used for a juvenile who may be referred for a civil‑commitment assessment.
The board approved the appointments and contract renewals in a block motion and recorded unanimous approval (Commissioners Sainautom, Kennedy and Vogler).
What’s next: county staff will execute the contracts and continue to use the providers for placements and in‑home services as needed; appointment terms and contract details are to be reflected in county records.
