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Council approves $25,000 to help open Carbon County youth crisis center; county and state also providing startup funds
Summary
The Rawlins City Council voted to provide a one‑time $25,000 payment to Volunteers of America for startup costs of a local youth crisis center; county commissioners have approved larger commitments and the Wyoming Department of Family Services pledged $50,000, volunteers said.
The Rawlins City Council approved a $25,000 one‑time appropriation to Volunteers of America to help start a Carbon County youth crisis center after county commissioners approved contracts and the state Department of Family Services pledged $50,000 toward startup costs.
"We're gonna do everything we can...to get operationalized and get up and running," said Heath Steele, Executive Vice President for Volunteers of America Northern Rockies, who described the group's experience running similar youth and behavioral programs in the region. "We operate community corrections, behavioral health, youth and adolescent services...we're gonna hire a director and a lead and put other positions in there to make sure we're staffed."
City and county staff told councilors the commissioners had agreed to a lease and a contract to support Volunteers of America and that some contract language would still see minor edits. Council members discussed whether funding should come from an impact‑assistance or other line items; one councilor suggested using previously allocated impact assistance funds and another urged legal review and coordination with county commitments before releasing funds.
Volunteers of America staff said the center will be licensed for crisis and group‑home beds and initially project operating losses even after state reimbursement; the organization's budget previewed a shortfall that local support would help cover while fundraising and contracts mature.
The council moved and approved the appropriation in online voting; the motion was recorded as passing at this meeting. Volunteers of America said they expect licensing and hiring to proceed in the coming weeks and that staff would return to the council as program and funding details solidify.
Next steps: Volunteers of America will proceed with licensing and hiring; staff and council will coordinate on accounting entries and potential future funding requests as the center becomes operational.
