Board approves $1.5 million CalAIM Path 3 grant for juvenile reentry planning; probation expresses implementation concerns

The Del Norte County Board of Supervisors voted May 20 to accept CalAIM Path 3 grant funding awarded to the county and authorized the probation department to begin work on an implementation plan to improve Medi‑Cal continuity for justice‑involved youth.

The county’s chief probation officer told the board the state awarded Del Norte $1,500,000 under Path 3 and that the immediate plan is to use part of the funds to hire a consultant to assess local needs and prepare an implementation plan. “We were awarded $1,500,000,” the chief probation officer said, noting the money remains in state accounts pending the board’s acceptance.

Under CalAIM rules discussed at the meeting, Medi‑Cal coverage must be restored beginning 90 days before a person’s release from custody; the state also expects grantees to have implementation plans and to meet go‑live timelines tied to 2026 deadlines. Probation staff told supervisors the grant aims primarily to fund planning, coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and initial infrastructure and that billing Medi‑Cal for services is expected over time.

Board members asked how the county would coordinate with out‑of‑county juvenile halls that currently house Del Norte youth under contract (Humboldt, Mendocino, Shasta). The chief probation officer said coordination with receiving counties is required and cited Lassen County’s template agreement with Shasta as a model. He described the work as “deep” and stressed the need for technical assistance: UC‑Davis and other teams are supporting counties statewide.

Supervisors pressed on capacity and timelines. An item in the grant requires a six‑month implementation plan and a go‑live date no later than Oct. 1, 2026; supervisors expressed concern the county’s small caseload and limited staff could make meeting those deadlines difficult. The chief probation officer said the consultant would help create the plan and coordinate the multiple contracts with receiving counties and DHHS.

Board action: the board approved acceptance of the Path 3 funds and authorized the probation department to proceed with consultant procurement and plan development; the motion passed by a recorded vote (5‑0).

What’s next: probation will work with DHHS, potential consultants and contracted juvenile facilities to draft the required implementation plan, with the county’s CAO and counsel advising on procurement and intercounty agreements. The department told the board it will return with details on consultant procurement and a proposed schedule for meeting the state timelines.

Direct quotes in this article are taken from meeting remarks by the chief probation officer and supervisors recorded in the board transcript.