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Multnomah County briefed on CHI Early Intervention as officials weigh budget cut
Summary
County staff told commissioners CHI EI connects youth to community providers but has low engagement: 208 referrals, roughly 4% actively completed services and 66% failed to engage; DCJ recommends following a 3% general-fund reduction while preserving state pass-through grant support and exploring outreach improvements.
Denise Pena, director of the Department of Community Justice, told the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners that the Community Healing Initiative Early Intervention program (CHI EI) was created in 2015 to connect youth who commit lower-level, first-time offenses to culturally specific community providers and wraparound supports.
The briefing, requested through a budget note from Commissioner Lori Stegman, presented utilization and outcome data and the program’s funding context. "This program is separate and distinct" from CHI's probation model, Pena said, and the department sought one-time bridge funding after a proposed reduction tied to a countywide 3% budget constraint drew community concern.
Dr. Kyla Armstrong Romero, Juvenile Services Division director, presented program data showing 208 youth were referred to CHI EI in the period…
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