Carbon County is trying to work out details on a program that aims to help children in school after the commissioners voted down the proposal last month.

On Thursday, Commissioners’ Chairman Mike Sofranko said that since the “no” vote regarding the Impact Project’s School Justice Panel Program, the parties involved in the project from the county courts have met with the board to talk about how to positively move forward.

“I’d like to report that the commissioners have had a meeting with all the stakeholders involved and it was a very good meeting,” Sofranko said. “We are currently reviewing information that the commissioners had requested.”

He said the meeting was very educational and went well overall.

The county is expected to act on the initiative at the commissioners’ Aug. 21 meeting.

The School Justice Panels were developed in Lehigh County, for the Allentown Public School District Middle Schools in 2009.

According to the panel’s website, “The program was designed to specifically address first time offending students and their families. Instead of sending the student through the court system, law enforcement officials have the opportunity to allow the student to avoid court. The youth are instead referred to our School Justice Panels where we first determine whether there are underlying mental health, drug and alcohol, or family issues prevalent.

Using clinical assessment and screening tools, SJP clinicians provide the information and have the means to assess underlying mental health issues that the schools often lack the resources to investigate.”

One of the sticking points the commissioners had last month was that some of the services the panel provides are already utilized through other organizations like St. Luke’s.

Another sticking point was the cost. The annual cost for the program is estimated at $220,000, with the monthly cost being $18,333.33.

During the last meeting, Jill Geissinger, director of Children and Youth Services, said that while she was disappointed with the vote, she understood where the commissioners were coming from.

“The School Justice Panel will give our youth who offend in schools a chance to receive support from a panel of professionals to collaborate and assist the youth to better decisions, preventing placements that could cost over $1,000 a day,” she said at that time.

“Children and Youth Services and the Juvenile Probation Office look forward to working together to gather, educate and inform all parties of the program’s value and retain the support of law enforcement, the five school districts, the state and local officials to keep prevention the priority and placement the last resort.”

Lehighton Area School District Superintendent Jason Moser, in July, sent the commissioners a letter supporting the move for implementing this program in the five county middle schools.

“I have witnessed firsthand the positive impact such programs can have on young people who may otherwise struggle within traditional justice systems,” Moser wrote. “The School Justice Panel Program provides an alternative path forward, fostering personal growth and offering a second chance for those who are often caught in cycles of poverty, trauma, and academic disengagement.”

Other letters of support were also received from Palmerton, Franklin Township and Weatherly police departments.