Lebanon County Children & Youth presents 23 placement-provider contract renewals, cites wage and service-cost pressures

Erin Moyer, administrator for Lebanon County Children & Youth Services, asked the board to approve the remaining 23 placement-provider contracts for fiscal year 2024–25, completing a slate of 62 such contracts for the agency.

Moyer told commissioners 39 placement contracts were approved at a Sept. 5, 2024 meeting and the 23 remaining contracts include 20 providers requesting rate increases and three requesting no increase. She said the 20 providers’ requests average 18.9% and that all requested rates are within state-approved rates for placement services. Across all 62 placement contracts the agency reported an average requested increase of 14.7%.

Moyer attributed the increases to placement providers raising wages to attract staff, higher insurance costs and the need to provide more specialized, trauma-informed services for children in placement. Commissioners noted similar workforce pressures in other county departments.

The board approved the remaining placement-provider contracts by voice vote after brief discussion.

The county will implement the contract changes through Children & Youth Services; effective dates for individual contracts were read into the record where applicable.