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Juvenile and mental-health courts ask Shelby County to restore program funding and avert staff losses
Summary
Juvenile Court leaders asked commissioners to restore funding for five community programs and to move up a renovation CIP after reporting health hazards; Mental Health Court requested $800,000 to replace expiring ARPA and state support and retain critical case managers.
Juvenile Court leaders told the Shelby County commission they have shifted from a reactive approach to a proactive family-stabilization court and asked the county to restore previously approved program renewals that did not make the proposed FY27 budget.
Judge Tarik Sugarman and Chief Administrator Kron Folsom described a caseload of about 40,000 matters and said family instability and domestic-assault referrals are major drivers of youth justice involvement. Folsom outlined five programs—youth advocacy, nurturing parenting, parent leadership training, Inside Circle and related services—that the court says produce positive outcomes and require continued county renewals.
Folsom also asked the commission to move a planned CIP renovation forward from 2028 to 2027, citing mold, asbestos, lead concerns, water intrusion and elevator failures that he called a ‘‘health and safety risk’’ for staff and court visitors.
Separately, Judge Sheila Bruce Renfro told the commission Shelby County Mental Health Court depends on state and ARPA funds that will expire in December; she said losing two case managers would render the program unable to function and requested $800,000 to maintain two positions, an added coordinator and a peer-recovery role required by the state.
Commissioners were given exhibit-level details and told the budget committee will begin considering amendments in the coming week.
