County committee backs Right Care juvenile program contract under expanded childcare fund reimbursement

Macomb County’s records and public safety committee recommended a contract with Right of Passage to operate an intensive community-based juvenile program called Right Care aimed at youth at risk of detention or residential placement.

County juvenile-justice staff said October 1, 2024 juvenile justice reform legislation expanded the childcare fund to incentivize community-based alternatives and increased the state reimbursement for community-based interventions from 50% to 75%. Staff said the Right Care program — included in the county’s approved 2025 childcare fund budget — uses evidence-based interventions (tutoring, recreation, life skills, community service and cognitive behavioral therapy) and will serve up to 16 youth at a time. Programming was described as taking place Monday through Friday after school into the evening at the juvenile court facility in the Old County Building with some recreation at the Mount Clemens YMCA.

Division administrator Nicole Fultz and Juvenile Program Director Dave Joseph answered commissioners’ questions about program operations, placement options and the county’s continuum of care. Staff explained that higher-risk youth can still be placed in short-term detention at the county Juvenile Justice Center or in out-of-county residential facilities for longer-term stays (typically six to nine months) and that the Right Care program is intended as an evidence-based community alternative for eligible youth.

After discussion the committee voted 11–1 to recommend the contract to the full board; the clerk recorded one commissioner voting no in committee.