MHMR could take over Youth Advocate Programs contract for Tarrant Juvenile Services
My Health My Resources of Tarrant County is being considered to take over case management, mentorship and skills training for at-risk youth with Tarrant County Juvenile Services.
MHMR would replace Youth Advocate Programs Inc., whose contract was discontinued in July over questions about language on its website including “diversity initiatives” and “systemic racism.”
The nonpartisan Youth Advocate Programs, based in Pennsylvania, provided counseling, mentors and community service in an effort to reduce repeat offenders. The company worked with the county since 1992.
Nearly 70% of children under the supervision of Juvenile Services received services from Youth Advocate Programs Inc., according to Bennie Medlin, the department’s director and chief juvenile probation officer.
The new proposed contract says MHMR would provide a holistic “wraparound” approach for rehabilitation and support services. MHMR would “address the multifaceted needs of at-risk youth through coordinated services, enhancing their chances of rehabilitation, reducing recidivism and promoting positive youth development,” according to the contract, which is worth up to $895,000.
My Health My Resource of Tarrant County provides community-based services for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health conditions, substance use disorders and developmental delays. It is a unit of local government whose board is appointed by county commissioners.
Susan Garnett, chief executive officer of MHMR, says the county has an obligation to ensure children receive appropriate services when they’re in the care and custody of an institution.
“What we want to do is spend a childhood period helping a child become a better adult,” Garnett said. “And so sometimes kids have had lives filled with hard knocks, and we want to help them out, and we want to help things be better for them when they’re an adult and certainly beyond that.”
Garnett says the organization will start the contract whenever it is approved by the board.
The Tarrant County Juvenile Board ended four contracts for a variety of services with Youth Advocate Programs during a July meeting. Three expired on Aug. 31, and one expires on Sept. 30.
Garnett says it’s her understanding My Health My Resources will have only one contract for similar services that were discontinued.
A Juvenile Services representative did not respond to a request for comment.
MHMR holds other contracts with Juvenile Services such as mental health assessment, residential substance abuse treatment and clinical management for behavioral health.
The decision to end the contract with Youth Advocate Programs halted services for about 75 youth. The contracts provided for services for up to 423 youths per year.
Youth Advocate Programs and its division called Sante Fe Youth Services cost taxpayers $311 and $440 weekly, respectively, for each adolescent served, compared to a weekly detention cost of $2,207, according to Youth Advocate Programs.
Sante Fe Youth Services provided prevention, intervention and counseling services designed for adolescents.
Kimberly Brandon, the vice president of Youth Advocate Programs Inc. West Region, has said the organization will continue to work to reinstate its contract with Tarrant County.
On Aug. 6, several Tarrant County residents attended the Commissioners Court meeting to speak on behalf of Youth Advocate Programs.
