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County moves to apply for juvenile diversion funds, seeks part-time diversion officer
Summary
York County commissioners approved pursuing ACT/Crime Commission grant funds that would fund counseling partners and a part-time diversion officer; commissioners asked about sustainability if grants do not recur and coordination with Polk County and schools.
Tristan Perry, identified in meeting materials as the juvenile-diversion coordinator, told the board the county can apply for additional ACT/Crime Commission funds and outlined proposed allocations: $10,000 to Blue Valley Health, $10,000 to Lumpy Michael psychotherapy and roughly $30,000 toward a part-time diversion officer position.
Perry said the partner contracts are intended to reduce barriers for diversion clients by covering counseling or substance-abuse-evaluation costs beyond what insurance pays. He also argued a part-time diversion officer would improve efficiency and allow more time for prevention and intervention work.
Commissioners pressed on whether the position is sustainable if grants are one-time or competitive. Perry said that if grant funding is not renewed he would propose keeping the position in the county budget and that having a funded position increases the county's competitiveness for future grants. He also said the schools provide office space and some in-kind resources for truancy work but do not have a statutory monetary obligation to share costs.
Board members noted that applying for the grant does not itself create spending authority; if the county is awarded both federal and local grants that overlap, the board would need to return to provide budget authority before the county could expend the funds. The board moved to approve submission of the grant application and carried the motion by roll call.
Next steps: staff will notify the grant commission of award status when known and return to the board for signatures and appropriation authority if the county receives funds.
Quotes: "...part time position would just open us up to receiving more grants and having a sustainability aspect," Perry said.
Ending: The board approved applying for the funds and emphasized that final program spending depends on later budget authority if awards are received.
