Linn County Commissioners Roger Nyquist and Sherrie Sprenger on Tuesday morning, Oct. 21, accepted a grant for $163,021 for the Juvenile Department to fund the Family Support Program.
Juvenile Department Director Torri Lynn said the grant comes from Youth Development Oregon and the Oregon Department of Education through the Linn Benton Lincoln Education Service District. It is targeted for juvenile crime prevention services.
In the written portion of his report, Lynn said Family Support liaisons “help youth and families remove or reduce barriers to school success.”
Lynn said the program’s goal is to address risks for youth and keep them from becoming involved with the juvenile justice system. He noted that more than 80% of young people involved with the Family Support Program do not become involved with the Juvenile Department.
The Family Support Program helps families access food, health care, housing resources, parenting support, connections to employment and education and other life skills, such as healthy lifestyle activities.
“Connecting youth and families with resources in their own communities at the time they need them is the backbone of this program,” Lynn noted.
In other business, the commissioners:
- Reappointed Dick Knowles of Sweet Home, Amy Peer and Andrea Bartell to the Linn Local Advisory Committee. The committee advises the Board of Commissioners and the Linn County Department of Health Services on mental health-related activities, programs and policies.
- Received a report from the Regional Accelerator and Innovation Network Catalysts (RAIN).
Nate Conroy, venture catalyst for Linn and Benton counties, highlighted several programs including how members of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Greater Santiam in Lebanon and Sweet Home, helped local small businesses enhance their digital social media presence.
RAIN also helped sponsor a biotech showcase in April in Lebanon that brought college research students together with successful entrepreneurs.
- Accepted a grant from the Oregon Health Authority’s Healthcare Coalition to purchase IV fluid warmers to be used by the Linn County Sheriff’s Office’s Search and Rescue Medical Team. The equipment will enable Advanced Life Support trained medical providers to administer warmed IV fluids to hypothermic patients in remote and backcountry environments. In the fall and winter months, IV fluid temperatures can drop too low to be administered.
- Approved new phone, video visitation, message and tablet usage rates by Telmate at the Linn County Jail.
- Approved refunding $13,340 to Samaritan Health Services for food vouchers that were not used as part of a sponsorship package at the Linn County Fair.
- Approved a new Developmental Disabilities Operations Manager job classification.
- Approved accepting up to $106,560.52 from the InterCommunity Health Network-Coordinated Care Organization for the delivery of Mental Health Promotion and Prevention services to Linn County residents. The agreement term is July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027.
- Approved a contract with Drewgle Enterprises to provide transportation services to Health Department clients when other transportation options are unavailable. The contract is for $240,000 and will run from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027. The primary user will be the county’s Development Disabilities clients, going to work and other community activities.
- Were told there were 104 deaths in Linn County in September. There were 46 births, 26 girls and 20 boys.
- Approved transferring $581,376 from contingency in Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and the Alcohol & Drug Treatment Program to personnel, materials and services, capital and other requirements within the Health Fund.
- Approved accepting the transfer of $40,000 from the Mental Health Department to General Services for the hiring of personnel to remodel the Old Armory building.
- Approved a revenue increase of $439,825 within Environmental Health, Public Health and the Health Administration office. The funds are designated for personnel services, materials and services and other requirements.
- Announced that the Board of Commissioners will not meet on Veterans Day, Tuesday, Nov. 11.