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Community corrections reports drop in juvenile intakes, job club yields hires
Summary
Megan Lewis reported lower juvenile intake in November, continuing employment outcomes from the department's job club and changes to Department of Corrections deadlines; commissioners were asked to approve related grant agreements.
Megan Lewis, representing the county's community corrections/adult and juvenile services, told commissioners Dec. 23 that juvenile intake slowed in November and described program outcomes and upcoming reporting deadlines.
"I am excited to report that intake has slowed down," Lewis said, reporting 11 intakes for November. Of those 11, Lewis said seven youths were returned to their parents, one was placed with a relative or family friend, one placed in a protective home and two were placed in detention.
Lewis reported other operational figures: 20 referrals were pending decisions about diversion, seven people were on intensive supervision with a named supervisor (Michael), and the county's adult services caseload had increased to 136 clients. She said 17 participants from Riley County and adjacent Clay County were currently enrolled in the county's recovery court program and that the next recovery court graduation is scheduled for Jan. 22.
Lewis described the department's job club, run in partnership with local workforce services and funded in part by behavioral health dollars that also pay for a collaborative staff position with community mental health. She said seven people attended job club in November and three of those seven obtained full‑time employment that month. From July through November, Lewis said 20 of 29 people served (69%) obtained employment.
Lewis also alerted the commission to an administrative change from the state Department of Corrections: the county's comprehensive plan due date was moved earlier to March 15 (year specified in the transcript context as the next plan cycle). She said a program review (audit) by the state corrections department is scheduled to begin in January and that the county recently hired a supervision officer for Clay County with a Jan. 6 start date.
During the meeting Lewis asked the commission to approve two grant agreements — for adult and juvenile alcohol treatment funds administered through a city/GRAMa process — which were later moved, seconded and approved by the commission.
Lewis closed by noting the department's pending administrative items and offering to bring the comprehensive plan and audit materials back to the commission for review ahead of state deadlines.
