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Office of Juvenile Affairs seeks rate and salary parity and funding for treatment capacity amid NextGen buildout
Summary
OJA asked for rate parity for group homes, salary adjustments for secure‑care residential staff and funding to expand treatment options for youth with developmental or intellectual disabilities, while describing ongoing NextGen campus construction and carryover use.
Timothy Tardibono, director of the Office of Juvenile Affairs, told the committee OJA is focused on maintaining services across the continuum—detention, youth service agencies, group homes and secure care—while finishing NextGen capital work at Tecumseh.
Key budget requests: OJA requested approximately $8.1 million in new appropriations tied to three priorities: $5 million to raise rates for congregate (level) group homes to parity with Department of Human Services group‑home rates; a salary adjustment plan for front‑line residential care specialists in the secure‑care facility at Tecumseh to improve recruitment and retention; and roughly $1.49 million to expand in‑state treatment resources for youth with developmental and intellectual disabilities (to reduce out‑of‑state placements).
NextGen facility and carryover: Director Tardibono and his deputy described the NextGen Tecumseh campus buildout—new multipurpose and support buildings and other upgrades—and explained that several million dollars of carryover have been held to complete those projects. They told senators the agency expects to complete remaining construction within about 12–18 months, and that much of the existing carryover is already allocated to finish the campus work. The director said agency carryover will decline as remaining projects are completed and that some revolving‑fund balances are also being used for projects.
System operations and partners: OJA staff stressed that youth service agencies operate in all 77 counties and that OJA contracts with 37 local youth service agencies to deliver prevention and front‑end services. The director said the FY24 and FY25 supplemental and youth‑services funding previously provided to agencies is being used for staff retention, and that OJA continues to monitor provider performance and contracted services.
Committee follow up: Senators asked about the agency’s carryover amounts and how much of the carryover could be used to cover recurring needs; OJA leaders said carryover has been used primarily for capital and one‑time projects and that recurring increases would be difficult to fund from existing carryover without jeopardizing project completion. The director said he will work with committee staff to refine carryover figures and the recurring cost impacts of requested parity and salary adjustments.
Ending: OJA emphasized the need to stabilize staff pay in secure care and group homes to avoid service interruptions, and that the requested funds would support retention, keep some youth in state and limit expensive out‑of‑state placements.
