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Juvenile bed rates rise; county weighs cheaper out-of-state alternative
Summary
Juvenile services staff told the board Norcore's daily bed rate will rise from $210 to $250 on Aug. 1. County staff noted an existing contract with Walla Walla at about $165 per day and said state and grant funds currently cover most detention bed costs.
Christy Kenny, juvenile department, told commissioners that Norcore, the facility the county uses for youth detention, will raise its daily bed rate from $210 to $250 beginning Aug. 1.
"Beginning August 1, Norcourse, our detention facility we utilize to place youth in, has raised their daily bed rate from $210 per day to $250 per day," Kenny said, explaining the increase stems from the facility's financial pressures.
Kenny said the county also maintains a contract with Walla Walla Detention, which charges about $165 per day. She told the board the county has grant funding and receives basic youth detention dollars through the Oregon Youth Authority, meaning the county does not always pay the full daily cost out of the general fund.
Kenny highlighted program differences: Norcore provides additional on-site programming, including a 30-day stabilization option and an extended youth care center program (YCC) that can last up to about 180 days. She said those services can be important for youth transitioning out of substance use or into residential programs.
Commissioners asked whether Norcore is the county's only option and whether the county should rely more on the cheaper Walla Walla facility. Kenny said the county has historically used Norcore and that program offerings and proximity are part of the decision. She warned that losing nearby facilities hurts the Central and Eastern Oregon region because some other facilities on the West Coast have daily rates of several hundred dollars per day.
Kenny also mentioned outreach opportunities: a regional Juvenile Department directors conference scheduled Oct. 5-7 and a request for youth/family volunteers to complete a Greater Oregon Behavioral Health Incorporated (GOBI) survey, for which participants could receive a $50 stipend per session.
The board did not take formal action on detention placement policy; staff said they will continue to use available grant funds and evaluate placement decisions based on cost, programming needs and proximity.
