County accepting bids to help at-risk youth

Nearly $290,000 is on the table for local nonprofits in Burke County interested in helping at-risk youth, but they better bring proof of their capabilities if they hope to see any of the funding.

The Burke County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) opened a request for bids from local nonprofits using evidence-based models to help youth ages 6-18 under court supervision. The deadline for applications is 5 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 18.

The funds will be available for the 2026-27 fiscal year beginning on July 1 and ending June 30, 2027, according to the request for proposals (RFP).

However, the awarded nonprofit must provide a 30% match to the funding they receive, according to North Carolina Department of Public Safety (NCDPS) Area Consultant Megan Webster.

“Some counties across the state do provide a match,” she said. “Burke County does not provide a match. The match can be either cash or in-kind, or a mixture of the two.”

She explained that many agencies meet in-kind match requirements by using donated office or meeting space. If the space is provided at no cost, the agency can count the estimated rental value toward its match. She added that some organizations also use volunteer time or staff hours funded through other agency resources.

Agencies generally only apply for the funds they need, and even if they apply for the full $287,074 available, she said it’s unlikely they will get funded for the entire amount.

Webster explained that, for the county to receive legislative JCPC funding, the local board of commissioners appoints stakeholders with an interest in preventing youth crime to a local JCPC.

The council assessed the needs of youth in the county using data from the Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s Juvenile Court Services as well as school system, health department, and Department of Social Services information.

Webster said some of the risk factors identified included detention admissions, felony referrals, known use of alcohol or illegal drugs by the youth or their family, mental health needs, and other factors commonly associated with criminal behavior.

“JCPC funds must first be used to address the needs of youth in the juvenile justice system and then can be used to provide services for at-risk youth,” Webster said. “Current programs typically have a mix of court-involved youth as well as youth referred from outside of court services.”

The RFP prioritizes services such as community service; substance abuse treatment; sex offender assessment and treatment; psychological assessments; interpersonal, family, and vocational skill building; and mentoring, among others.

Completion across nearly all program types resulted in lower recidivism rates for both at-risk and court-involved youth, according to a 2025 JCPC program effectiveness report from the North Carolina Judicial Branch.

Webster explained that funded programs are reviewed yearly, typically halfway through the fiscal year in January. JCPC members visit funded programs, review their first six months of progress, and report back to the full council, usually in February, to address their findings and make recommendations.

“Service providers also attend all JCPC meetings, providing reports on their activities, the numbers of youth participating, and other relevant information,” Webster said.

Providers must also describe their program and how they operate, the problems that they plan to address and how, the target population, their staffing model, and their budget.

Webster directed interested nonprofit organizations to apply by accessing NC ALLIES (A Local Link to Improve Effective Services) on the NCDPS website at ncdps.gov/our-organization/juvenile-justice/community-programs/program-agreement-information.