Commissioners approve slate of Children & Youth contract rate changes for 2025–26 fiscal year

Cumberland County commissioners on July 23 approved a series of contract renewals and rate adjustments for Children & Youth services for fiscal year 2025–26, covering foster care, shelter, residential treatment, specialty services and interpretation.

Jamie Scribe, speaking for the Department of Children & Youth, walked the board through a long list of providers requesting varying increases or decreases tied to program type and billing history. Highlights included an 11.68% rate increase for Catholic Charities (with roughly 14% of that increase directed to foster parents’ daily per diems), increases to certain shelter and detention levels for Chester County Youth Center that reflect added drug-and-alcohol and psychiatric services, and a range of changes across private foster-care providers. Several providers increased per-diem or daily rates to pass more funds to foster parents; others had modest increases tied to program costs.

Scribe said some increases reflect statewide trends in the cost of congregate and specialized care; in other cases, decreases reflect lower usage in the county or changes in service lines. Interpreter services contract Language Service Associates will adjust mileage to match the federal IRS rate and double an after-hours shift differential from $7 to $14.

Commissioners moved, seconded and approved the package of contracts as presented. County staff said the contracts are consistent with statewide compensation trends for these levels of care and that some purchases remain below the state maxima for comparable services.