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Reno County youth services reports rising demand, longer shelter stays and drug‑use concerns
Summary
Youth services staff told the county commission that detention and shelter populations rose in 2024, that the emergency shelter now houses some youth long‑term, and that staff are seeing more drug use (including fentanyl) among youth. Detention daily charges will rise to reflect costs; staff described community and school partnerships.
Joe, director of the countyE2—s youth services (name shorthand used in the meeting packet), told commissioners that fiscal 2024 ended with higher detention and shelter usage and that the county has adjusted operations to handle more complex youth needs.
He said the countyE2—s emergency shelter now houses some young people for extended periods — in some cases a year or more — because it is serving youth with both placement needs and criminal histories after statewide changes to residential placement options. That shift has required physical adjustments at the shelter, including converting a room into two single‑occupancy spaces to meet state square‑footage and security requirements for higher‑risk youth.
On detention, Joe said Reno County charges $150 per youth per day and that staff will raise that rate by about 10% for the coming year to reflect higher costs; he said detention pricing has not changed in nearly a decade. The detention facility continues to accept youth from a wide region of western Kansas, which affects average daily populations.
Staff reported trends of increased drug availability and use among youth, particularly mentioning fentanyl. Youth services described on‑site drug and alcohol assessments and linked treatment with a local program; mental‑health services also come into the facility via a contracted therapist. Joe said the county partners with local schools and community organizations to provide education and credit recovery for youth while they are detained.
Why it matters: County detention and shelter capacity, per‑day charges and treatment services affect county budgets, juvenile outcomes and public safety. Staff described evolving program demands following shifts in state placement policy and persistent drug‑use challenges that affect youth stability and recidivism.
Operational details and next steps: Staff have adjusted shelter rooms to allow single‑occupancy for higher‑risk youth, will increase the detention daily rate by 10%, and will continue to contract with treatment and mental‑health providers for on‑site services. Joe asked the commission for continued support for operations and staffing; commissioners thanked staff and acknowledged the difficult work.
Ending: The commission did not take formal action on the report but recorded the update and acknowledged ongoing program pressures, particularly from substance‑use patterns among young people.
