Media contact:
Mary Louise Madigan: (216) 698-2521; mlmadigan@cuyahogacounty.us

Amid national placement crisis, local agencies partner to build safe, secure treatment options for youth

CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OH – Today Cuyahoga County released a Request for Proposals (RFP), asking local partners and service providers to pitch ideas for how to meet the needs of our community’s most traumatized and at-risk youth. The goal is to develop a Child Wellness Campus that provides a safe place for children and teens to stay while receiving treatment and family resources until a more permanent and sustainable solution is established.

In Cuyahoga County, across the state, and across the nation, there is a critical shortage of treatment facilities that can serve young people who cannot remain safely with their families and have acute mental, behavioral, and/or physical health needs. Many of these children and teens have experienced trauma and may exhibit aggressive or violent behaviors. They cannot stay at home, in hospitals, or a juvenile detention facility and often end up in the care of the Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS), waiting for an opening at a residential treatment facility. This poses a safety risk to the youth, DCFS staff, and the community.

The purpose of the RFP is to offer children and young adults ages 12-18 years in the custody of DCFS. and/or served by Juvenile Court, the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board of Cuyahoga County, or the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities, safe, supervised, residential placement 24/7, 365 days a year, until less restrictive living arrangements become appropriate.

“We must move toward transformative care to ensure the safety and well-being of our children,” said Jacqueline Fletcher, Director of DCFS. “This cannot just be a DCFS problem. We know that children do better in the context of family and community. We have to build the resources and support in our community. A Child Wellness Campus is a holistic initiative to leverage our resources, engage our partners, and raise our voices to support our children and families with the care and support they need to be healthy and safe.”

“The County is responsible for every child who comes into our care, no matter what hardships they arrive with,” said County Executive Chris Ronayne. “This new Wellness Campus leans on the success of the T-Suites by focusing not just on a child’s survival, but on their well-being too. I look forward to continuing this work with our community partners as we look toward a long-term local solution to what is a national placement crisis.”

The intention is to open the Child Wellness Campus at 3343 Community College Ave. before the end of 2023. However, Cuyahoga County is willing to consider other locations if vendors have an alternative site that can open earlier.

The RFP is a joint project of DCFS, Family and Children First Council, Juvenile Court, the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board of Cuyahoga County, and the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

Proposals are due by 11:00 a.m., Monday, September 4, 2023. To receive a copy of the full RFP, contact the Department of Purchasing at 216-443-7200.