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<br />C. Child Guidance Center, Request for Funds - Carol VanHouten, president of the
<br />Child Guidance Center for-Lane County ,said' the: organization is trying to develop
<br />a comprehensive chi1drens mental health service and plans to apply' for a grant
<br />from, the National ,Institute of,Me,ntal Health from fun,ds which were appropriated,_.
<br />in Fepruary of this year. She said they are approaching other local governmental
<br />agencies in the County, 'where it is planned to locate'the service, for financial
<br />help. They are asking the city of Eugene for $3,000. ,She outlined the types of
<br />services planned and listed.in material previously distributed to Council members.
<br />In response, to questdJon from Mayor ' Anderson as ',to how the organization arrived
<br />at the amount of $3,000, Mrs. VanHouten said there was no formula used, that the
<br />organization looked at the total amount needed and is asking funds from various
<br />local agencies.
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<br />Councilman Williams asked about.any future commitments on the part of the City
<br />and whether L-COG has been contacted. Mrs. VanHouten said they do not know at this'
<br />time where to seek funds to meet Federal funds which will be available through an
<br />B.-year period. 'She said they would hopf3!,f.or. revenues ;froin the Stat,ein the.next
<br />biennium. She said it is ,planned to seek help from L-COG, but ,at ,the present 'time
<br />there must be assurance ,of local matching funds because of time limit on submitting
<br />an application for funds from the Federal government this year.
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<br />Mrs .',VanHouten iri reply to Cozinci1man Mohr said the grant could be applied for on
<br />the basis of a tentative commitment of funds from the Coun'cil; they do not have to
<br />have the cash in hand.
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<br />Mrs. Campbell said she feels it is important to authorize the expenditure because
<br />of ,the need for the services and because until now there have been no funds avail-
<br />ab1edfrom, the Fede,ral goverriment. She noted that' the support' must be in the form
<br />of money rather than other credits., such as ,supplied to Child Care, Inc., 'and that
<br />the report on need for these services is the :result of considerable time and effort
<br />by members of the_League of Women Voters. 'She said further it should be noted it is
<br />a County-wide proposal.
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<br />Councilman Bradshaw commented on the need for this type service in the community,
<br />saying ,it ,would seem ,most children needing ,these services ultimately come under.
<br />,the jurisdiction of the, Juvenile Court,' and this, wolild be a step' toward preventing
<br />that.
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<br />Councilman Teague questioned whether there is conflict between' the proposed services
<br />of this group with others already established, and whether this organization has ,
<br />been examined by either L-COG or the City. He said he feels there should be more
<br />information before a decision is reached. Councilman Hershner concurred, saying
<br />no reflection is intended on the proposed services, but more information' should be
<br />available on the impact on other Gity services and revenues'.
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<br />Councilman Williams said he feels it is important to follow the procedure of re-
<br />ferring requests of this nature to L-COG for recommendation, that the Council
<br />should not be commi tted to a continuing program wi thout having the entire scale
<br />of priorities c~nsidered.
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<br />Assistant Manager, answering Mrs. Campbell's inquiry, said the Child Guidance group
<br />was informed of the budgeting procedure; normally a request would he referred'to
<br />'L-COG and then to the Budget Committee, but ,t'hat because of the, deadline, for-apply-
<br />ing for the Federal grant they asked to present their request directly to the
<br />Council. He cautioned about use of emergency funds because of so many worthwhile
<br />projects and said there was cdncern about bypassing the normal procedure, but that
<br />this project may justify this' treatment.
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<br />Councilman Mohr said if a verbal commitment is sufficient to enable Child Guidance
<br />to apply for the Federal Grant, the Council' might indicate this is a priority it '
<br />would support and then argue for the funds in the Budget Committee.
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<br />Councilman Williams said he would favor the 'expenaiture if it is dearly indicated
<br />there is not an eight- to ten-year commitment.
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<br />Councilman Teague asked about the time limit 'onapp1yi_ng for ,f.unds and said he
<br />would favor following set procedure. Mrs., VanHouten replied the application must,
<br />be submitted on April 14, 1972 and it must be known at least what funds have been
<br />requested locally.
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<br />Manager expressed' his concern about future commitments" saying the group/s present
<br />approach seems unstable; that he would hope, if the City is involved, that during
<br />the year an effort would be made ,to buildup the budget of a single agency for the
<br />local matching funds, and that agency would then recognize its responsibility in
<br />the future to match Federal funds. On a long-range basis, commi tment at this time
<br />would appear to be risky. He suggested perhaps a County-wide service such as the
<br />Juvenile Agency would provide the proper stability, not in terms of operating, but
<br />to act as sponsor in providing local matching funds.
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