A message from Teton Youth and Family Services:
JACKSON, Wyo. — A recent poll indicated that over 70% of Jackson Hole residents are enthusiastic to support at least some (if not all) of the SPET initiatives on the current November ballot. “From the perspective of Teton Youth & Family Services (TYFS), we are delighted to hear this, but we’re not surprised,” says Sarah Cavallaro, executive director. “We’ve been a part of this community for over 45 years, and we know that we’re surrounded by people who care deeply about making our home the best place it can be. We’re confident that they’ll show their support for TYFS when they vote on or before November 8th.”
SPET Proposition #2 — Teton Youth & Family Services Facility Improvements is one of the most conservative initiatives on the 2022 ballot. Proposition #2 is a request for $2 million — the most conservative proposition on the 2022 ballot, and a mere 8.3% of the largest proposition and 0.12% of the overall proposed SPET budget of $167,000,000.
“This funding — matched 7:1 with $10 million in private philanthropic contributions — will facilitate much-needed upgrades that will not only make therapeutic spaces significantly safer for both students and staff, but will also rejuvenate spaces to maximize the impact of time spent within TYFS programming,” explains Cavallaro.
“The residential programs at TYFS save our community an estimated $4.3 million a year in youth staying in less expensive and least restrictive care,” she adds. “With 85% of youth in these programs not going on to higher levels of care, the avoided costs are tremendous, and grow even larger when we consider the immeasurable value of families reunifying and the youth becoming a contributing member of the community.”
Data from the recent Community Health Needs Assessment, conducted by the Teton County Health Department, indicates that the Jackson Hole community considers mental health and well-being a top priority. TYFS delivers critical support to youth and families in concert with many other health and human service providers.
During the pandemic it became evident that while other providers were serving clients virtually, TYFS was an “essential service” and remained fully operational to provide lifesaving care to youth and families in need. Additionally, TYFS offers an emergency suicide holding facility that provides an critically important service to our community — especially as Wyoming has the highest suicide rate in the nation. Resources in an acute crisis can literally be the difference between life and death.
“Any time we’re dealing with a juvenile offender or youth in crisis, our first goal as law enforcement is to stabilize the situation. Once we’re able to do that, we rely on the facilities and programs at Teton Youth & Family Services to help begin the healing process,” Teton County Sheriff Matt Carr explains. “TYFS is capable of handling a wide variety of offenses and challenges that youth face — crisis management, residential care, therapeutic support — and it’s their ability to collaborate that really completes the circle for kids and families.”
Having access to TYFS’ facilities and expert staff 24 hours a day, 365 days a year means that law enforcement partners always have a local resource to rely on. “Teton County doesn’t have any other juvenile holding facility,” Carr explains. “We estimate that the resources available through TYFS save the community millions of dollars every year. From where I’m sitting, it makes a lot more sense to invest $2 million now to continue reaping a significant amount of savings. It’s better for kids, and it’s better for the community’s bottom line.”
Over the past year alone, the need for TYFS services has increased by over 40%. At the same time, the facilities in which the organization operates are in desperate need of repair — some were constructed as early as the 1930s and have not been renovated since the 1980s.
While these facilities continue to serve ever-increasing numbers of children, young adults, and families, they’re in pressing need of revitalization. “One of the most important reasons that we are upgrading our facilities is the priority of safety,” Cavallaro says. “We also know that more welcoming, contemporary therapeutic spaces are deeply helpful on anyone’s healing journey. Our community needs these spaces to reflect the excellence of the services that we provide.”
The much-needed repairs are already underway, funded by a balance of sources. Two-thirds of the $15 million budget will be covered by private philanthropic contributions, and $3 million more will be derived from state funding. “The remaining $2 million, we hope, will come from the SPET initiative on the current ballot,” explains Cavallaro. “By statute, the Town and County are responsible for the safety of residents, which includes young people. Our services are available at no cost to all families 24 hours a day, 365 days a year — that’s absolutely critical to keeping children and youth safe.”
Voting for SPET Proposition #2 — Teton Youth & Family Services Facility Improvements will ensure that these renovation projects will be completed on schedule, and the organization can seamlessly continue providing a critically-necessary service to the community.
Teton Youth & Family Services urges all community members to vote for SPET Proposition #2 — Teton Youth & Family Services Facility Improvements. Vote on or before November 8th, and cast your ballot to support critical programming and facilities that keep children and families healthy, thriving, and safe.
