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City to apply to NYS DCJS to pilot EXALT youth program; agreement would return to council if funded
Summary
Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens briefed councilors on a state-funded application to bring the EXALT juvenile justice program to Syracuse; the city would administer the grant if funded and receive a 10% administrative fee, but the council agreed to consider only the application now, with a contractual agreement to return for approval later.
Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens briefed the council on Item 53: an application to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) to implement the EXALT program, a juvenile-justice support model originating in New York City.
Owens said EXALT would be a targeted program for youth involved in juvenile justice, family court or probation, with an initial service population described in the packet as about 15–19 participants (staff said they would calibrate ages and caseload after consultation with local juvenile justice partners). The city would apply to DCJS for funding (the application amount cited by staff in the meeting materials was not-to-exceed $1,500,000) and the city would receive a 10% administrative fee if the grant is awarded. Owens emphasized that the council was only being asked to approve the application; any contractual agreement with DCJS and any city contract with EXALT would return to the common council for review.
Councilors asked how EXALT differs from existing local youth services. Owens and staff said the program is more laser-focused on adjudicated youth and the program team works directly with courts and probation to place participants in workforce-preparation and internship opportunities; staff noted the city had hosted EXALT representatives for two days of information sharing with local partners in the prior months.
Councilors and staff confirmed the funding is New York State money (DCJS) and not a city general-fund obligation; deputy mayor and staff also said EXALT would hire locally and locate office space in Syracuse if funded.
Action taken in the study session was procedural: staff was instructed to submit the DCJS application. The council did not consider or approve the underlying contract; that agreement was described as returning to council after the award and negotiation phase.
