Document text
County panel chides agencies for discord Divides up $450,925 to prevent juvenile crime By JONEL ALECCIA Nearly half a million dollars in new money to prevent juvenile crime will be divided among area social service agencies, despite the groups' inability to cooperate among themselves. That was the decision Monday of the Jackson County Commission on Children and Families, whose members expressed concern at intense turf battles that erupted over some $450,925 allocated by the state Legislature for contract services. "It was unfortunate that these groups were unable to reach consensus," said Jim Adams, commission chairman. "In the future, we hope our providers will commit to modeling the collaborative process." Adams' comments were aimed primarily at Community Works, one of the area's largest social service agencies, and a coalition of nearly a dozen groups led by the Medford School District. Both groups competed for funds aimed at services for county youth ages 7 to 17 who are at risk for criminal behavior. Asked to join forces at a meeting called last week by Hank Collins, county Health and Human Services director, the two groups could not reach agreement, Adams said. So, the commission split geographically the lion's share of the funds, some $317,000 targeted for assessment and case management of at-risk kids for the biennium that ends in June 2001. About two-thirds of the money, nearly $200,000, will go to the Medford School District group to provide services in Medford, Eagle Point, Prospect and Butte Falls. The remaining one-third, or nearly $105,000, will go to Community Works to provide services in Ashland, Phoenix-Talent and Central Point. That move disappointed school district coalition leader Carolyn Hayes, who said her group -- which included nearly every major player in county social services except Community Works -- reached consensus before they ever came to the table. "I thought we DID collaborate," Hayes said. The decision pleased Arnie Green, executive director of Community Works, who filed a solo initial funding request before joining with the Jackson Education Service District and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Jackson County. "It's going to work," Green said. "Whether we had it all or just part of it, we can serve kids." The commission declined to fund the Rogue River School District, which submitted its own grant proposal. The district will receive services through either of the two major recipients. The commission also declined to award some $67,000 available for intensive parent training and asked both Community Works and the school district group to resubmit proposals for that funding. At the same time, the commission awarded some $67,000 for mental health services to Jackson County Mental Health and the Southern Oregon Child Treatment and Study Center. Although both agencies applied separately, they agreed in subsequent meetings to share the funds. Green said his proposal at last week's meeting included plans to divide services geographically in accordance with the commission's final recommendation. He said the school district turned down that proposal. But Hayes contended it was Green who could not reach agreement over services. Her coalition includes the school district, OnTrack, Southern Oregon Drug Awareness, the Medford Police Department, the Jackson County Sheriff's Department, Adult and Family Services, Kids Unlimited, Hall Enterprises, the Upper Rogue Community Center, the West Medford Community Coalition and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Jackson County. Both groups claimed to live up to the cooperative spirit initiated by Gov. John Kitzhaber, who pushed for Legislative funding -- including some $750,000 for Jackson County -- and emphasized that communities must take the lead in helping at-risk youngsters before they commit crimes. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA