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22.

Meeting Date:	09/06/2011
New State Grant-Funded Positions
Submitted For:	Scott Matthew	Submitted By:	John Pelczar, Juvenile Services
Department:	Juvenile Services
Agenda Category:	Regular Agenda Items

Information

Agenda Item

Discuss and take action on new grant-funded positions for Juvenile Services

Background

Williamson County Juvenile Services will be receiving additional state funds from the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission in FY 2012. The funding is intended for expanding and creating programs and services designed to divert youth from commitment to the Texas Youth Commission. The current Williamson County target for TYC Commitment in 2011-12 is 6 youth per fiscal year (reduced from 9 youth per year in 2010-11), an incredibly low number given that the department received 1333 total referrals in 2010.

The Juvenile Board has approved acceptance of the state funding along with approving allocation of the funding for three (3) new positions. The department is planning to add the following three (3) full-time grant-funded employees with the additional funding and is requesting that employee slots be created:

1.) Juvenile Probation Officer II – Intensive Supervision Program (Grade/Step 22.01): Currently the department only has one officer assigned to the Intensive Supervision Program covering the entire county. The addition of the JPO II – ISP Officer will allow for an increase in youth served in the Intensive Supervision Program as 2 officers will split the county allowing for increased focus on a problem-solving approach with youth and families as opposed to supervision alone. The JPO II – ISP Officer will also be tasked with creation of a sanctions program, ultimately reducing youth referred back to court for Violation of Probation. Overall, the addition of this officer is expected to reduce costs associated with residential placement by providing intensive supervision and services to youth in their homes.

2.) Juvenile Supervision Officer – Academy (Grade/Step 19.01): The Academy is in the process of developing a short-term residential program (30-90 days) in order to maximize utilization of beds while offering a shorter term residential stay. It is projected that this program will begin in January 2012. This program will support youth struggling with success in intensive field programs (ISP, Preservation, PROMPT), while also reducing placement costs associated with longer-term residential stays. As the Academy is currently staffed for 42 residential beds, this JSO Position will assist with beginning expansion of the program to facility capacity of 48. Additional staff members will be needed in the future to fully staff all 48 beds.

3.) Shift Supervisor – TRIAD (Grade/Step 23.01-04): Beginning in 2009, TYC Commitment Reduction funds were used to hire 5 Juvenile Supervision Officers and 1 Treatment Coordinator for the TRIAD program, a 12-bed secure residential treatment program that began in February 2010. Since opening, the program has been supplemented through previously existing Detention Administration, Supervisors, and Juvenile Supervision Officers. The addition of a TRIAD Shift Supervisor will allow for increased coordination in TRIAD, leading to more successful outcomes and reduced lengths of stay.

These three positions were specifically chosen as they will strengthen programming for youth at highest risk of being committed to the Texas Youth Commission. These changes are projected to also reduce costs associated with out-of-home placement.

Fiscal Impact

From/To	Acct No.	Description	Amount

Attachments
No file(s) attached.

Form Review

Inbox	Reviewed By	Date
County Judge Exec Asst.	Wendy Coco	09/01/2011 10:33 AM
Form Started By: John Pelczar		Started On: 08/31/2011 01:36 PM
Final Approval Date: 09/01/2011