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County Gets Grant to Keep Youth Offenders at Home
By Helen Silvis
Of The Skanner News
M
ultnomah County has won access to federal fund-
ing for its efforts to keep youth on probation at
home in their families and communities, instead of
sending them away to youth institutions.
Working with youth in their own homes has been shown
to produce better long-term results than sending teens to
correctional institutions, says Christina McMahan, assistant
director of the county’s Department of Community Justice.
“When we have evidence-based services …that are holis-
SUB-BIDS REQUESTED
Portland Community College
Rock Creek Campus – Building 5
Addition, Portland, Oregon
BUILDING 5 ADDITION
BIDDING ALL TRADES
Bid Date: March 4, 2014 3:00 p.m.
Walk Throughs are NON-mandatory, but atten-
dance will be recorded. Subcontractors who attend
either walk through will receive 5 points on the bid-
ding scorecard.
Sub Walk Through #1: 2/21/14 – 8:00 a.m.
Meet at the front entrance of Building 5
tic, we can prevent them getting pulled deeper into the juve-
nile justice system or into the adult system,”
Multnomah County Commissioners heard a presentation
on the funding Feb. 18. The county is the first in Region 10
(Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington) to get the funding
for juvenile offenders.
The county plans to apply for around $800,000 a year,
delivered through the state Department of Human Services.
The money will fund:
Two new caseworkers to work with youth on probation.
Wrap-around services through Intercept, a program run
by the nonprofit, Youth Villages.
Other programs including shelter beds and foster homes
for youth.
Thousands of Oregon children and teens could benefit in
future. Clackamas, Douglas, Jackson, Lane, Marion,
Yamhill and Washington counties are now planning to
apply for the funds, which come through Title IV E of the
Social Security Act.
That couldn’t have happened before Multnomah County,
working with Oregon Department of Human Services and
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
METRO FINANCE AND REGULATORY
SERVICES
NON-DISCRETIONARY INVESTMENT
ADVISORY SERVICES
RFP 2583
The Finance and Regulatory Services of Metro, a metro-
politan service district organized under the laws of the
State of Oregon and the Metro Charter, located at 600
NE Grand Avenue, Portland, OR 97232-2736, is hereby
requesting sealed proposals for Non-Discretionary
Investment Advisory Services.
Open House for Questions at Jobsite Trailer
2/24/14 – 7:30-9:30 a.m.
Sub Walk Through #2: 2/25/14 – 8:00 a.m.
Meet at the front entrance of Building 5
Open House for Questions at Fortis Construction
Downtown Portland Office
2/28/14 7:30-9:30 a.m.
Sub Questions due by end of day 2/28/14
Contacts Receiving Bids:
Natasha Carroll
(natasha.carroll@fortisconstruction.com)
1705 SW Taylor Street, Suite 200
Portland OR 97205
Phone: 503-459-4477
Fax: 503-459-4478
OR CCB#155766
Bid documents are available for review at the Fortis
office and at local plan centers, OAME, MCIP and
BESThq.
Sealed proposals are due no later than 2:00 p.m. March
13, 2014, in Metro’s business offices at 600 NE Grand
Avenue, Portland, OR 97232-2736, Attention: Sharon
Stiffler, Procurement Analyst, RFP 2583.
Solicitation documents can be viewed and downloaded
from the Oregon Procurement Information Network
(ORPIN) at http://orpin.oregon.gov/open.dll/
Metro may accept or reject any or all bids, in whole or in
part, or waive irregularities not affecting substantial
rights if such action is deemed in the public interest.
Metro extends equal opportunity to all persons and
specifically encourages minority, women-owned and
emerging small businesses to access and participate in
this and all Metro projects, programs and services.
Metro and its contractors will not discriminate against
any person(s), employee or applicant for employment
based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, sexual
orientation, age, religion, physical handicap, political affil-
iation or martial status. Metro fully complies with Title VI
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related statutes and
regulations in all programs and activities. For more infor-
mation, or to obtain a Title VI Complaint Form, see
www.oregonmetro.gov.
Multnomah County Juvenile Court Judges, removed legal
barriers to using the funds to help youth offenders.
The agencies collaborated for two years to secure the
funding.
Judges had to change the wording in their court orders.
Oregon Department of Human Services had to change the
state plan.
“It’s an understatement to say they have been crucial to
this process,” McMahan said.
“DHS had to get approval from the Region 10 adminis-
tration. It’s taken a lot of work on their side.”
Researchers have found that removing youth from their
families and sending them away to correctional institutions
increases their risk of reoffending.
“Our kids on probation are at higher risk of ending up in
a youth correctional facility bed or in the adult system,”
McMahan said. “So the more we can do earlier on, the bet-
ter the outcomes are for the kids.”
On the other hand, approaches that emphasize keeping
youth with their families can reduce the risk of future fail-
ure.
Youth Villages Intercept program, for example, which has
served more than 17,000 youth in 11 states, claims a suc-
cess rate above 80 percent.
“We track our kids six, 12 and 24 months after they have
left our services,” Lynne Saxton, executive director of
Youth Villages Oregon said. “It’s important to know that
what you do is effective and changes the lives of children
and families.”
Intercept works with youth and families in their own
homes, making sure they have help available day and night,
for as long as they need it.
“In the first moments of crisis for a family, if we can get
a family intervention specialist in that home, we can assess
what’s going on and help keep that family together,” Saxton
said. “That’s our first and main goal.
“We are very often the strongest advocates for the family
because we know, based on years of experience and
research and data, that if we do our work well, families that
no-one thought they could be successful with their kids,
they absolutely can be successful.
“They just need the right level of support and help.”
Intercept’s family specialists help parents deal with any
challenges they face, including problems with work, hous-
ing and basic needs.
“If the parent has a drug or alcohol problem, we’re going
to get that addressed,” Saxton said. “We’re going to help
them get the help they need.”
Intercept case workers help parents create safety in the
home. Sometimes that means an abusive adult has to move
out.
“Because we’re in the home every day – 24/7 if need be
– we’re going to find that solution for that mom,” Saxton
says.
2-19-14
We are an equal opportunity employer and request
sub bids from minority, women, disadvantaged, and
emerging small business enterprises.
2-19-14
Ella’s Kitchen
FORMERLY SOUP & SOAP
Southern Style Cuisine
(one taste will bring you back)
3505 N. Mississippi Ave.
Mon—Sun 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Breakfast
Lunch Special
Dinner
Seafood
Dessert
Each Orders To Go .25¢
503-927-6708
February 19, 2014 The Portland and Seattle Skanner Page 7