Title
ESTABLISH BUDGET AUTHORITY FOR THE SEDGWICK COUNTY YOUTH PROGRAM (SCYP).
Presented by: Mark Masterson, Director, Sedgwick County Department of Corrections.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve request to establish budget authority for the Sedgwick County Youth Program.
Body
SCYP is a specialized juvenile offender reentry program (classified as a Youth Residential Center II) that is entirely funded by state reimbursements. SCYP is licensed by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) for a capacity of 20. When SCYP admissions declined in 2011 due to less youth entering out of home placements, DOC managed the SCYP program and budget by reducing staffing to a funded capacity of 14.
SCYP has experienced a dramatic increase in referrals during the last six months. From September to November 2013, there were 8 referrals; from December 2013 to February 2014, there were 38, for an increase of 375 percent. All of these referrals are Sedgwick County youth. The occupancy rate for both January and February reached 93 percent. SCYP is full now with a waiting list of 10. Youth on the waiting list spend more time in juvenile detention at an increased cost to the County.
Alternatives: SCYP is a grant program and is discretionary for Sedgwick County.
Financial Considerations: Additional 2014 budget authority of $122,527 is requested to fill four DOC unfunded grant positions (funded entirely by state reimbursements). The estimated personnel and benefits (family health coverage) for April through December 2014 is $122,527 (budget impact statement attached). The positions are: 20002987 Corrections Coordinator (previously held with no funding), 20002989 Intensive Supervision Officer I (previously held with no funding), 20002476 Sr. Corrections Worker (transfer from 33015-253 to 33024-253), and 20002478 Sr. Corrections Worker (transfer from 33015-253 to 33024-253).
Legal Considerations: The authority for this action is K.S.A. 19-101. A simple m...
Click here for full text