Lebanon County Children & Youth presents 23 placement-provider contract renewals, cites wage and service-cost pressures
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Summary
Children & Youth Services asked the commissioners to approve 23 remaining placement-provider contracts for FY 2024–25; staff said providers requested increases driven by wages, insurance and specialized care costs and that requests fall within state-approved rates.
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.