Forest collaborative and youth mentoring groups give midyear updates; county grant supports both

Two county grantee partners delivered midyear reports Wednesday on their special-project grants, updating commissioners on research tied to prescribed-fire smoke, community outreach and an expanding youth-mentoring program.

Jacob Fritz, GRAMA manager for the Deschutes Collaborative Forest Project, reported on three principal efforts: an indoor air-quality sensor study tied to a prescribed-fire pilot, a communications study on public messaging and smoke mitigation, and consensus-building work to balance recreation access with habitat values. Fritz said sensors were deployed around greater Bend from May through September, with data analysis being handled by Oregon Institute of Technology and the University of Oregon Smoke Center; preliminary results were expected in four to six weeks. Fritz described the collaborative's outreach work, including field trips with recreation leaders, community speaker events in La Pine and Sisters, and tabling at public events.

Fritz told commissioners the Deschutes Collaborative has a roughly $200,000 annual budget and operates under a fiscal sponsor (a registered 501(c)(3)). He said the collaborative has no formal policy position on biomass but generally supports investment in forest products and industry options that can make fuels-reduction work financially viable. Fritz also said the collaborative has tracked biomass and other restoration projects such as a Mount Bachelor heating project.

Rachel Cardwell, representing Friends of the Children of Central Oregon, told the board the program serves nearly all enrolled participants from Deschutes County (78 of 80 children at the time of the report). The nonprofit said it completed its first South County cohort in La Pine last year, added 16 children in Bend and Redmond last spring, and plans to add another 16 in spring 2025 and a further cohort in spring 2026. Cardwell described mentors as full-time salaried staff who provide a 12.5-year relationship for each child (typically beginning in early elementary grades). The organization cited national outcome metrics it tracks: an 83% high-school graduation rate among program participants, a 92% rate of entry to higher education, trade programs, military service or employment after graduation, and reported reductions in juvenile-justice involvement and teen parenting among program alumni.

Both presenters acknowledged county support. Commissioners asked about the collaborative's role in prescribed-fire messaging, the nonprofit's budget and funding mix, and Friends of the Children's capacity to expand given referral volumes. The Friends representative said the organization receives more qualified referrals than it can serve with current staffing and funding, and that growth depends on raising additional operating resources.

Commissioners thanked both presenters and noted the county will continue funding discussions as the budget process proceeds.

Speakers quoted or summarized in this report were present at the Jan. 22 Deschutes County Board of Commissioners meeting and are listed below.