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Lawmakers question capacity gaps: out‑of‑state placements, restorative services and staff caseloads
Summary
Committee members pressed the department about residential treatment availability, out‑of‑state placements (Florida, Tennessee), gaps in restorative‑justice provider capacity (Barge) and high juvenile casework intensity compared with ideal caseload targets.
Lawmakers used the hearing to press DCF and DOC witnesses about where Vermont sends youth who need specialized treatment, the availability of community‑based alternatives, and the workload on social workers who supervise justice‑involved youth.
Mindy Bugereau described Balanced Restorative Justice Services (Barge), a DCF‑funded contract that provides prevention, diversion screening (YASI prescreens in many districts), restorative circles, case management and victim‑related restorative work across the state. Bugereau said Barge covers most counties but cannot meet all current demand: “Some counties there’s a wait list. Some counties they don’t accept…
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