Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
Board approves state behavioral-health grant application and MOA for Southwest Regional Juvenile Detention Center
Summary
Finney County commissioners voted to approve submission of the state fiscal year 2027 behavioral-health grant application and to authorize the chair to sign the memorandum of agreement with Compass Behavioral Health. The grant supports GAINS assessments, behavioral-health evaluations and post-release care coordination for detained youth.
The Finney County Board of Commissioners approved a state fiscal year 2027 behavioral-health grant application and authorized the board chair to sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Compass Behavioral Health to provide behavioral-health evaluations and care coordination for youth detained at the Southwest Regional Juvenile Detention Center.
Beth Beavers, director of the Finney County Department of Corrections, said the JDC has participated in the program for three years and uses the GAINS assessment to identify youth who need mental-health or substance-use evaluations. Compass Behavioral Health completes evaluations within 24 to 48 business hours after referral and provides group counseling and continuity-of-care services to connect youth and families with community resources following release.
Beavers noted Kansas legislation (referred to in the meeting as "house bill 20 21") requires a standardized risk-and-needs assessment within 72 hours of admission and an updated case plan within 48 hours of assessment completion. Commissioners heard that the grant will help the JDC expand behavioral-health and case-management services in response to that requirement. Staff recommended approval of Alternative 1, authorizing the chair to sign the MOA and the grant signature page.
After brief questions about whether the MOA signature should be the chair or the administrator, Commissioner (speaker 2) moved to approve Alternative 1 and authorize the chair to sign; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.
