House Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #1061 Grove Counseling Center: GUYS Construction and Repair
Requester:	Larry Visser		Organization:		The Grove Counseling Center, Inc.
Project Title:	Grove Counseling Center: GUYS Construction and Repair		Date Submitted:		01/24/2000 2:43:53 PM
District Member:	Tom Feeney		Service Area:		Regional
Counties Affected:	Brevard, Orange, Osceola, Seminole
Recipient:	The Grove Counseling Center, Inc.		Contact:		Stephen Hill
	585 East State Road 434		Contact Phone:		(850) 656-3100
	Longwood 32750
Project Description:
The Grove Counseling Center, Inc. is a 501(c) 3 organization accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. It has 28 years experience in providing quality substance abuse, delinquency, and rehabilitation services under contract with the Department of Juvenile Justice and the Department of Children and Families. The Grove developed the Grove Unique Youth Services (GUYS) program in 1995 in response to a grossly unmet need for Level 6 commitment facilities for juvenile offenders. The 1999 Outcome Evaluation Report of the Juvenile Justice Accountability Board cited the GUYS program for having the second highest performance index score of all DJJ facilities in its class. GUYS experienced a 91% completion rate and a non-recidivism rate of 66%, well above the statewide average of 47%. Need The Grove operates its 22-bed GUYS program in an overcrowded 35-year-old house built with non-public resources and owned by the corporation. The facility is characterized by 5-6 youth per bedroom, narrow hallways, blind spots, high-maintenance construction materials, and poor ventilation. The age and design of the facility pose significant challenges for security, economy, and life safety. In order to compensate for facility limitations, extra staffing costs are incurred to maintain the required line of sight supervision on all youth. It is difficult to maintain individual youth accountability, because staff often cannot isolate one youth's deeds from another under such crowded conditions. The overburdened air conditioning and ventilation systems cannot control the spread of mold, mildew, and germs. The state has not raised the per diem reimbursement rate for Level 6 commitment since before 1990. Meanwhile, program standards and accountabilities have risen dramatically, driving costs up. One way the Department of Juvenile Justice can control the rise in operating costs is to invest in facility improvements that yield operating efficiencies. Solution The Grove Counseling Center, Inc. is proposing to remodel and expand the GUYS facility. The dormitory and youth containment areas will be re-designed and re-built to improve security, efficiency, and ventilation. Office space and meeting rooms will also be remodeled to better meet the needs of the program. This will enable staff to manage behavior more effectively by providing the means to isolate troublemakers when needed and maintain better observation of the youth in general. The capacity of the program will be expanded to 30 beds. This expansion will help to control rising operating costs through economy of scale and by matching the total bed count to the Department?s 1:10 staffing ratio requirement. The project will add about 2,500 square feet of building space to the existing configuration and will remodel existing space. Low maintenance materials will be used where practical. Worn out furniture and equipment in the living, dining, and laundry areas will be replaced. The addition will also enable us to vacate a portable classroom that does not meet city codes as a permanent structure and is suffering from wear and tear. The project site is already properly zoned for the intended use and does not abut any residential sites. Cost The Grove Counseling Center, Inc. is requesting $497,109 in non-recurring FCO to cover the cost of construction, repairs, furnishings, and equipment to the GUYS program facilities located at 580 Old Sanford/Oviedo Road in Winter Springs, Florida. Design, Permitting, Impact Fees $34,500 Construction $394,200 Furniture & Equipment $53,930 Contingency (3% of total) $14,479 Total $497,109 Public Review This proposal is on the agenda for public review by the City of Winter Springs at their commission meeting on January 24, 2000. It will be presented to the Seminole County Juvenile Justice Council on January 21, 2000.
Services Provided/Benefit to State:
The Grove Counseling Center, Inc. is proposing to remodel and expand the GUYS facility. The dormitory and youth containment areas will be re-designed and re-built to improve security, efficiency, and ventilation. Office space and meeting rooms will also be remodeled to better meet the needs of the program. This will enable staff to manage behavior more effectively by providing the means to isolate troublemakers when needed and maintain better observation of the residents in general. The capacity of the program will be expanded to 30 beds. This expansion will help to reduce the waiting list for juvenile offenders and to control rising operating costs through economy of scale and by matching the total bed count to the Department's 1:10 staffing ratio requirement. The addition will also enable the GUYS program to vacate a portable classroom that does not meet city codes as a permanent structure and is suffering from wear and tear.
Measurable Outcome Anticipated:
The success of this program shall be measured in accordance with DJJ standards for Level 6 commitment facilities, e.g. a) 100% of all youth shall have 0 escapes as applicable to the program. b) 80% of all youth served shall successfully complete the program. c) 85% of youth completing the program shall improve by at least one grade level in reading, writing, and math skills. d) The percentage of youth that are re-arrested, re-adjudicated, and re-committed to DJJ within 12 months of discharge shall not exceed the state average for like programs.
Amount requested from the State for this project this year:				$497,109
Total cost of the project:		$1,032,109

Request has been made to fund:			Construction
Is there Local Government or Private match for this request?					Yes
				In-Kind Amount:	$535,000
Was this project previously funded by the State?					No
Is future-year funding likely to be requested?					Unknown
Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request?					No
Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget?					No
Is there a documented need for this project?					Yes
	Documentation:	Department of Juvenile Justice Strategic Plan
Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)?					Yes
	Hearing Body:	Winter Springs City Commission
	Meeting Date:	01/24/2000