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SALT LAKE CITY — A budget cut of millions of dollars could mean troubled youth in the state will no longer have a place to go for help.
As the Utah legislative session approaches its final days, lawmakers have proposed to stop funding for Juvenile Justice Services shelters.
At a Salt Lake County youth receiving center, troubled youth ages 8 to 18 years old are brought in on a daily basis. Associate Director Roger Gisseman said approximately six to 10 youth are brought in on a daily basis.
He said the facility is a place for troubled youth to go, with many of them having trouble at home or they are picked up by the police for minor offenses.
"If the police pick them up and bring them here it's a safe place for them," Gisseman said. "Also, we can talk with parents about what alternatives they have."
With the potential budget cuts for Juvenile Justice Services, the Salt Lake County center, along with seven others, will be forced to reduce intake hours and cut staff. An additional eight receiving centers in rural areas will have to close.
"Many of the rural areas truly don't have other resources," Gisseman said.
There is still a need for us to provide services regardless of where the funding comes from. We can't control which kids are going to be delinquent and in which counties. What we can control are the services we provide.
–Elizabeth Sollis
Elizabeth Sollis from the Utah Department of Human Services said many of the youth could end up in detention facilities or could be placed in foster care.
Sollis added medicaid funding for JJS has dwindled over the past few years. In 2011, the state of Utah gave one- time monies to help offset costs, but if that money is not reallocated, nearly 102 full-time employees will lose their jobs.
"It's never a done deal until they announce the session is over, so we're hopeful that within the next two days we might be able to see some funding for the receiving centers and the youth programs," Sollis said.
Lawmakers have tentatively approved $1.25 million in funding for the Genesis Youth Center, which is less than Genesis requested several weeks ago, but it will at least keep the facility open.
Now, the concern is the receiving center and what could happen with Utah's troubled youth.
"There is still a need for us to provide services regardless of where the funding comes from," Sollis said. "We can't control which kids are going to be delinquent and in which counties. What we can control are the services we provide."
Last year, the youth receiving centers allowed law enforcement to spend 7,500 hours on the street, opposed to spending that time processing youth in detention centers.
Justice Juvenile Services is asking for $2.5 million to keep the youth receiving shelters open.
