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Committee approves contract amendments for juvenile care-management organizations
Summary
Wayne County Health & Human Services Committee approved Amendment 12 to multiple two‑year contracts (with renewal options) for care-management organizations that provide treatment planning and services to juveniles in the county’s juvenile justice system.
The Wayne County Commission Health & Human Services Committee on Jan. 7 approved Amendment 12 to a series of two‑year contracts (each with multiple one‑year renewal options) with several care‑management organizations that deliver treatment planning and services to juveniles involved in the county juvenile justice system.
The committee approved a single motion to move items 1 through 5 — contract amendments for Black Family Development, Inc.; Bridgeway Services; CCMO Center for Youth and Families; GrowthWorks, Inc.; and Inside Youth and Family Connections — with Commissioner McCormick moving the package and Commissioner Killeen seconding. The motion carried on a voice vote.
Why it matters: the amendments adjust the fourth‑quarter fiscal 2024 payments to the county’s care‑management organizations (CMOs) so they can continue providing “comprehensive treatment plans to juveniles in accordance with requirements of the juvenile justice system,” according to the agenda language presented by Melissa Fernandez, director of Juvenile and Youth Services.
Several providers addressed the committee. Kenyatta Stevens of Black Family Development, Inc. said preliminary 2024 data show “98 percent of the youth that we've served who had a felony, remained free of felony convictions during the time that we serve them,” and added that 98 percent remained free of felony convictions “for 2 years even after being involved in our services.” Laura Reiners, community relations director at GrowthWorks, described violence‑prevention work, trauma‑informed practices with police departments and a youth advisory council made up of program participants.
Commissioners pressed for local contracting and staffing details. Commissioner Anderson asked whether county contracts had expanded beyond Wayne County; Melissa Fernandez explained that some placements are in secure state facilities in Escanaba and Grayling when local level‑2 beds are unavailable, and she said county staff are working to partner more with community‑based organizations in Wayne County. Fernandez also said the department will include these provider trends and data in the department’s forthcoming annual report.
Clarifying program details provided to the committee included that the contract amendments are intended to account for fiscal‑year 2024 fourth‑quarter payment adjustments and to preserve service continuity; providers said subcontracting to smaller local organizations fluctuates and county staff are working to strengthen local partnerships and contractor capacity.
Ending: The committee did not request separate votes on the individual amendments after the package motion; the items were advanced together and recorded as carried.
