Palm Beach County says yes to grants for youth

After scrutinizing annual grant-making decisions, commissioners make no changes to staff recommendations.

After throwing a scare into nonprofit leaders and their clients, Palm Beach County commissioners last week unanimously agreed to spend $3.1 million next year to support programs for children and teens.

Commissioner Sara Baxter, who spurred the discussion by suggesting money was being squandered, joined her colleagues in supporting the full amount recommended by staff. But she didn’t change her mind. 

Why it’s important: Some 33 programs, offering mental health, mentoring, family counseling and after-school services, were in jeopardy. Since the contracts are for three years, $9 million was at stake. 

• Commissioners also agreed to give $8.9 million to nonprofits that offer mental health, housing and substance abuse programs. Those grants are monitored by the Community Services Department. 

Zoom in: Baxter raised the specter of the ongoing audit of county spending by the state’s DOGE team. She continued to insist the tax-funded Children’s Services Council should take over the programs. 

What they’re saying: “We shouldn’t be, in my opinion, in the children’s business,” Baxter said. Over time, she said, the programs should be shifted to the CSC, which collects roughly $160 million in property taxes annually. She serves on the CSC board.

Zoom out: After the 2012 Sandy Hook school massacre, commissioners and community leaders agreed struggling teens were overlooked. The CSC primarily focuses on children 5 and under. The county created the Youth Services Department to address the needs of older kids. It monitors the grants, trains workers and offers programs of its own.

What others said:

• Commissioner Joel Flores said the Boys and Girls Clubs saved his life, giving him a safe place to go after school. “Some of my friends were slinging drugs. Some of my friends are no longer here,” he said. “All we’re doing is making a very small investment to help kids.”
• Commissioner Bobby Powell quoted the lyrics of a 1984 hit song by Whitney Houston: “I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way.”
• Commissioner Marci Woodward said more robust tracking is needed to ensure all children are reached.  “The only way we know if we missed them is if we have a tragedy,” she said. 

Among recipients of the Youth Services money: Aid to Victims of Domestic Violence ($260,000), Compass ($306,000), Center for Child Counseling ($652,000), Milagro Foundation ($226,000) and Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida ($46,000).

Among recipients of the Community Services money: South County Mental Health Center ($1.87 million), The Lord’s Place ($410,000), Alzheimer’s Community Care ($561,000) and Vita Nova Village ($94,500).

At its meeting on Aug. 19, the commission made no changes in staff’s recommendations for spending $2.48 million in opioid settlement money.