Montgomery County looks to hire new juvenile resource coordinator to assist local juveniles

CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – During the Budget Committee meeting on Wednesday, March 20, committee members approved a resolution amending the budget of the Montgomery County Juvenile Court appropriating funds for a new juvenile resource coordinator.

When asked about the potential new job opportunity within the Montgomery County government, County Mayor Wes Golden said this is a position being funded by the opioid settlements in which the county has received. The money coming in will allow for the position to be funded for over the next 18 years.

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Golden said there is an internal committee deciding how the funds should be allocated, and one of the ideas that came up was for the need to have somebody specifically focused to work on juvenile resources. He added to his comments by saying the committee then brought the idea to Edward Moss and his team in juvenile resources.

“They came up with the job description, the plan and everything else,” Golden told Clarksville Now. “My thought is we’ve talked a lot about a juvenile resource center, but we don’t have to wait for a building before we start working on the services that need to be provided to our children of Montgomery County right now.”

Moss spoke with Clarksville Now after the Budget Committee meeting and he said there is a unique opportunity in the community to address, holistically, some problems juveniles face.

“I think the resource coordinator is going to address some of the environmental concerns,” Moss said. “What I can say is one of the key ports of the resource coordinator is how we address that environment and the family structure, while still trying to create resources and opportunities for the juveniles as well. So, it’s going to be a full-on holistic approach as we move forward.”

While the juvenile services department does have some space constraints currently, Moss said they are looking to post the position at the end of May or the first quarter of June, with the idea the position will be filled near the end of June or the beginning of July.

The resolution will next be discussed at the County Commission informal meeting scheduled for Monday, April 1.