MIFFLINTOWN — Juniata County Commissioners approved a three-year, $150,000 Children’s Trust Fund grant agreement Tuesday aimed at helping keep children from entering foster care.

The agreement, presented by Juniata Children and Youth, runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029. Officials said the grant provides $50,000 per year to support two evidence-based programs the county already uses but cannot fully fund.

The money will support Seeking Safety, an intensive in-home program focused on trauma and substance use involving parents, and Functional Family Therapy, an intensive in-home service that can address truancy, child-parent conflict, and substance use.

Officials said those problems are among the reasons children enter foster care. The grant allows the county to use the new money first, with no county funding required.

For residents, the grant could mean more families receive help before a crisis leads to foster care. For parents, children, and caseworkers, it could mean earlier intervention and fewer delays caused by limited program funds.

One official told commissioners the county already has the services, but current funding is limited. She said one program had been paused for a couple of months until the next fiscal year begins. The grant, she said, will provide additional money for the programs.

Commissioners approved the proposal unanimously.

The board also heard from Chelsea Reed, Area Agency on Aging director, and Geli Losch about Dementia Friendly Mifflin-Juniata, an initiative to expand support for people with dementia and their caregivers.

The effort grew out of a gap Reed and Losch said they identified about two years ago in dementia-friendly services across Mifflin and Juniata counties.

They said the area lacked caregiver support groups and had not yet been recognized as dementia-friendly.

The initiative has since brought together local partners, including representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, elder law, local banks, and other community groups. Reed said Mifflin and Juniata counties signed a pledge through Dementia Friends Pennsylvania in March to become dementia-friendly communities.

A pilot memory cafe will be one of the first pieces of the effort, with sessions planned for late June, July, and August. The first will be held at the Juniata Valley YMCA, the second likely at the Four Seasons Senior Center, and the third at a location to be determined.

The memory cafe is intended for people caring for someone with dementia, including family members, friends, and neighbors, as well as people living with dementia. Caregivers will be able to talk with others facing similar situations and learn about resources while people living with dementia take part in activities. A light lunch is planned.

Officials said the pilot will help determine which locations, times and activities work best. The goal is to move toward monthly memory cafes in 2027, possibly with rotating locations because Juniata County is spread out, and residents in different parts of the county may have different access needs.

Losch said she is trained as a Dementia Friends Champion, which allows her to provide information sessions and resources. She said she has already trained Juniata Valley Bank managers on how to respond when customers may experience cognitive changes.

Commissioners also ratified a $24,030 CDBG-IDIS payment to LEZ Electric Inc. for the McAlisterville project. During the discussion, officials described the work as part of a water infrastructure project involving a storage tank, a new well, electric service, utility lines, and a control house.

The project was expected to be finished in May, but winter weather delayed the work. An extension runs through the end of September, and officials said they expect the project to meet that deadline.

Commissioners also approved a change to the capital assets section of the county handbook, based on a recommendation from the county’s independent auditor, Boyer and Ritter.

The board also approved a settlement agreement between SEDA-Council of Governments and Juniata County, a cleaning contract for the Register and Recorder’s office, and tax exonerations for Fermanagh, Turbett, Milford and Fayette townships.

Commissioners reviewed April departmental reports from the treasurer’s office, sheriff’s office and assessment office. Treasurer Laurie Hauer told the board her office handles hunting, fishing, and dog licenses, pistol permits for carrying a pistol while hunting, small games of chance and bingo licenses, county deposits, grant deposits, and tax collection administration.

Commissioners also approved a professional and administrative services agreement with SEDA-Council of Governments for the county’s Community Development Block Grant program. The $41,250 scope of services includes application preparation, grant administration, activity development, and activity management.

After the commissioners’ meeting, the board convened as the Board of Elections and approved minutes from the May 22 meeting to compute and canvass results from the May 19 election. Officials said there were no issues.