SMETHPORT — At a special meeting Thursday afternoon, the McKean County commissioners authorized the county to submit an application to the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency for a two-year, no-match Violence Prevention Reduction Grant.
The county is seeking $206,478 to address youth violence. If the application is approved, the McKean County Department of Human Services will administer the funding, according to Lee Sizemore, department administrator, who spoke about this competitive grant during the meeting.
Since July 2018 and after Parkland and other high profile school shootings nationwide, community agencies, Department of Human Services, district attorney’s office and area schools have been in discussions about how they can coordinate efforts. “We all recognize that schools lack the resources to fully address the behavioral health needs of children alongside academics, vocation, careers medical care and healthful meals,” said Sizemore.
Pennsylvania implemented Act 44 of 2018 recently, and school districts have had to roll out various reforms — assessments of safety and security, all-hazards planning and physical security enhancements, as well as appointing school safety coordinators and addressing the safety needs of students and staff.
“Many districts and Intermediate Unit 9 have applied for School Safety and Security funds through PCCD in October — funding made possible through Act 44 for additional social workers, resource officers, training and curriculum resources and security enhancements,” Sizemore added.
McKean County’s application to PCCD would help augment what the schools have requested and assist in coordinating efforts across schools, law enforcement and community resources so that “schools don’t have to do this alone.” A series of trainings, facilitated strategic planning and start-up costs for a countywide mobile crisis intervention program will be parts of the county’s application.
Contracted training and strategic planning would include: Life space crisis intervention, and ecumenical/faith-based summit, facilitated training for developing a positive school climate and quarterly facilitated strategic planning sessions. Additional low or no-cost trainings will be held.
“Contracted Youth Mobile Crisis would involve assessment and short-term crisis counseling aimed at working with the youth, schools, families, existing services and other natural supports,” Sizemore said. “Together with schools, this approach would help identify solutions for youth and families and access resources for support, comfort and treatment.”
In another vote, Commissioners Cliff Lane and Carol Duffy approved a resolution authorizing the county to enter a grant agreement with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency for the 2018-19 Hazardous Material Response Fund Grant in the amount of $11,267.24. This funding would be effective from July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019.
The county will also enter into an agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for a Recycling Development and Implementation Grant amounting to $81,647, which represents part of the total costs of $90,719 for the bins and compactor at the recycling collection station in Smethport.
Commissioners also accepted the request for tax exempt status for the 2019 tax year for a .17-acre parcel at 512 Biddle St. in Kane, which is owned by the municipal government. The assessed value is $4,000.
The commissioners’ next meeting has been rescheduled for 10 a.m., Feb. 14, at the courthouse.
