Partnership for Children, Youth and Families requests reclassification and more funds for food and homelessness supports

Dr. (name not fully provided) Brown, head of the Partnership for Children, Youth and Families, told the County Council on May 15 that the nonprofit partnership has grown to 42 staff and manages 27 programs with 22 funding sources, bringing millions of non‑county dollars into the county.

Dr. Brown said the Partnership sought reclassification of the director role from a long‑term contract position to an at‑will county employee (E6 classification as personnel advised) to reflect the agency’s responsibilities; personnel estimated the county cost of that reclassification at about $88,000. The Partnership also asked for increased support for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to respond to a 33% increase in families who are homeless or imminently homeless, and requested funds to support the food bank via the food council (including $233,000 to infuse healthy food into pantries) and to staff a half‑time childcare specialist to coordinate the county’s early childhood work.

Brown described rising demand: 58 new families admitted this year and 80 families on the waiting list for Partnership services; a reported 36% increase in food insecurity over 12 months and 51,000 monthly instances of assistance. The Partnership said it leverages county dollars about 1:9 and reported bringing in roughly $4.5 million in non‑county dollars for the current period and projects $7.5 million in 2026.

Brown asked for the council’s support and noted that the Partnership is shifting away from federal funding due to instability; the agency said it lost about $120,000 of federal funding this year and is pursuing state, foundation and philanthropic sources. The presentation was informational and elicited discussion about grocery access in Broodton Park and other community partnerships; no formal council vote was taken.