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Regional juvenile detention director warns county to expect more youth, pitches Secure Care beds and programming
Summary
Michael Walden, director of the Southeast Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Center, told commissioners the center is operating at 17 of 25 beds, that state changes could increase intakes, and that the center has proposed a six-bed Secure Care unit pending state approval with potential revenue impact.
Michael Walden, director of the Southeast Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Center, briefed the commission on facility operations and funding. "There's going to be changes that directly affect everyone in detention, which would be an uptick in kids coming to detention," Walden said, citing a state notice directors received in early June.
Walden said the center currently houses 17 youth in a 25-bed facility and is pursuing programming (anger management, case management, mental-health services) and grant funding to respond. He said they are pursuing a Secure Care addition that would provide six beds for medically needy children; a contract proposal has been submitted to the state and, if approved, Walden said the unit could open "maybe in August." He also estimated midrange revenue of about $300 per day per child under some contract scenarios and suggested the program could generate roughly $600,000 annually in an optimistic projection.
Walden discussed budget impacts and the county's share under the facility's historical funding formula and urged continued regional cooperation. Commissioners asked about the formula basis, ownership structure of other facilities, and how contributions were calculated under the facility's original bond documents. Walden said he would share the financial details once state and regional data were finalized.
