Discuss, consider, and take action on 2018 Indigent Defense Discretionary Grant Resolution for Juvenile Services.

Juvenile Services is applying for a discretionary grant the the Texas Indigent Defense Counsel on behalf of the the Juvenile Court.  The department is requesting $75,000 in grant funding with a required 20% match from county funds.  The department plans to use existing budgeted funds to cover the match.  If received, the grant funding would be used to appoint Attorney Advocates to respresent youth while in placement in the Williamson County post-adjudication secure residential facility (CORE).  These attorney's would be appointed by the Juvenile Judge immediately upon a youth's placement in CORE and would be actively involved in the youth's case throughout the youth's time in placement.  Examples of activities that Attorney Advocates will perform include attending weekly treatment team meeting, compliance hearings, client meetings, parent engagement, and representing youth in court hearings if they are unsuccessfully removed from the program.  The goal of this program is to help ensure youth's due process rights are protected and increase successful outcomes fot youth placed in the facility.