York County Commissioners sign off to receive $1 million federal grants for juvenile diversion program

YORK – After quite a round of questions and conversation, the York County Commissioners signed off on receiving more than $1 million in federal grants for the county juvenile diversion program.

​The grants include one worth $425,000, to be used for planning how to use the second grant worth $650,000. The grants are intended to expand the juvenile diversion program, by developing mental health services for juveniles. The intent is to help keep juveniles from being involved in the judicial system and to provide mental health services for at-risk kids.
The award of the grants was just recently announced so now comes the process of developing exactly how this program will look and how to make it sustainable into the future.
York County Attorney Gary Olson and York County Juvenile Diversion Director Tristan Perry met with the York County Commissioners this past week. They asked the commissioners to accept the grants, which will start the process. The commissioners have raised questions as to whether they have the manpower to make sure the federal requirements are met and if the county will eventually have to hire more people to run the program after the grant money runs out.
“We have done some groundwork and we have had meetings regarding the roadmap to guide this program,” Perry told the county board members. “We have a rough draft of a plan after meeting with community stakeholders.”
He said one sentiment they are hearing, about providing expanded services, “is how every meeting we have with a youth is an intervention meeting so this mental health grant provides that culture to help.”
Commissioner LeRoy Ott sat in on some of those early planning meetings, “and the one thing we looked at is that how they are already connected to resources to help plan this and this program opens it up to get more grant money, which got my attention.”
“That was my take-away as well,” said Commissioner Andy Bowman who also sat in on those meetings. “They are allowing us to make these programs right and make them sustainable. I’m excited to get going on this and it’s time to start the planning phase. This program is going to be fantastic and lasting.”
“In our conversation last week, there was some reassurance, but any time you get federal dollars there are strings attached,” said Commissioner Daniel Grotz. “There will need to be a substantial amount of oversight of this grant money. You are proposing adding one employee?”
Perry said that was the case. “We want to make sure we are in compliance and it is done right.”
“So you are willing to take on more work to run this expanded program, will you also be able to do all the oversight?” Grotz asked. “Can you do all of this with one more person?”
“I want this to be as efficient as it can be,” Perry said.
“Where my concerns are is that I’m told it would require hiring one more person but now it looks like it will take two people, maybe three. I’m being told different things and I’m losing confidence there will be proper grant oversight,” Grotz said.
“So with additional staff, would they be under the county attorney’s office or would they be contractors or would they be county employees?” asked Commissioner Randy Obermier. “If they would be county employees, that would mean we (the county board) would set the wages.”
Olson said the additional staff member or members would be part of the county attorney’s office. “And there is zero ask of the county except to approve this grant and the concept, no ask for money from the county.”
“To be frank, we are being told one thing and another thing happens,” Grotz said. “I foresee there will be three positions added by the time we are done.”
“If we hire one, two or three people, the grant covers them all,” Olson responded.
“I think the program will be good but I think there will be challenges,” Grotz said.
“The conversations I’ve had with the grant administrator is we just need to say yes today and as this thing evolves, it could be completely different,” Bowman said. “All they are asking us today is to approve the grant and I think to say no would be a great disservice to the people we serve.”
“I think the grant is great,” Grotz said. “My issue is that when you are dealing with federal dollars, it’s imperative we track and document everything very carefully.”
“And they identified that already with the hiring of a person to do just that,” Bowman responded. “This gives us an opportunity to hire the right people to serve the greater good.”
“I know Daniel’s point on the number of employees, but aren’t they all covered by the grant?” asked Commissioner Jack Sikes.
Olson said yes, that is the case.
“It’s good to know the grants will cover that, the additional people, but that is only if the grants keep coming in,” Grotz said.
“With more employees, where will we house them as the courthouse space is already full?” Obermier asked. “Will we have to have an off-site office? Do we have any idea on that as we will need to provide all that.”
“We don’t know yet if we will hire employees or subaward contractors,” Olson said.
“I’d like to see who will be responsible for the auditing and the auditing of a subaward,” Obermier said. “And the reimbursement issue – as this is a reimbursement grant – is a little bit of a worry, as we know nothing free is ever free, so it makes sense to ask these questions now.”
“I wouldn’t be sticking my neck out if I didn’t think this will be a great program,” Olson said. “Will there be glitches? Yes. But we will make sure to make sure all the requirements are met. We are very passionate about this program.”
“The need is definite,” Ott added.
All the commissioners voted in favor of accepting the grants and moving forward.