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County hears from guidance center, Growth Works and Centers for Family Development on youth‑assistance, prevention and re‑entry efforts
Summary
Three youth‑service providers described prevention, diversion and care‑management work for youth across Wayne County, reporting high program completion rates and asking the commission to continue prevention funding while noting increased complexity of needs and procurement delays affecting payments to providers.
Commissioners heard extended presentations from three providers who deliver youth‑assistance, diversion and care‑management services across Wayne County.
Kevin Carlton of the Guidance Center described 25 years of Youth Assistance Program (YAP) work in the Downriver catchment, reporting 142 youth served last year with a 92% completion rate and offering services ranging from individual counseling to multi‑systemic therapy and referrals to wraparound supports. He's seeing a rise in vaping and marijuana referrals and said some schools are raising concerns about early exposure to extremist material.
Representatives from the Conference of Western Wayne and Growth Works described subcontracted YAP services for 18 western Wayne communities, reporting roughly 129 youth served annually and about half of referrals coming from school or law‑enforcement sources. Growth Works told commissioners it is temporarily fronting program costs because of delayed purchase orders in the county procurement system and said staff are working with county procurement to resolve outstanding POs.
Centers for Family Development (doing business under a consolidated name) presented prevention and care‑management outcomes. Staff highlighted restorative‑practice models, workforce development and re‑entry coaching and reported post‑program outcomes including graduation, employment and low post‑termination felony conviction rates for program participants. Centers staff urged continued funding for prevention services and one‑tenth‑mill dollars that support early intervention.
Commissioners praised providers’ work, asked about budget and procurement status, and directed staff to continue coordination; county staff said they will return with additional requests and that providers will be kept informed while procurement issues are resolved.
