The stoplight is on — indefinitely — regarding the commitment of Travis County children to the Texas Youth Commission. At the first news about the "abuse cover-up" scandal at the Youth Commission, I had no hesitation: Our families and community expect and deserve safe and humane treatment for our children.

We traditionally have sent our most troubled and violent juvenile offenders to Youth Commission facilities — not just for our community's safety — but because the commission offered reputable treatment programs to change criminal thinking and to mold scofflaws into responsible, educated young adults. I am concerned that the scandal within the Youth Commission has whipped up a distraction to effective treatment. When kids are worried about their safety, how can they focus on how they need to change their lives?

I don't know the future of the Texas Youth Commission. I recognize the local fallout from the scandal will affect us on all levels. It is a reality that keeps me awake at night, pondering how we in Austin can ensure that our kids are safe and that they benefit from the programs we provide. As chairwoman of the Travis County Juvenile Board, overseeing secure juvenile facilities and probation services, I know well that "the buck stops at the bench."

It is tempting to view the situation as a predicament. What will we do with the 100 or more juvenile offenders that we would have sent to Youth Commission facilities this year? It costs the state an average of $163 a day per child to keep a child at a youth lockup, a bill paid by state taxpayers. Bypassing that system means our county may have to bear the costs of alternative treatment. Of course, we will ask the state to redirect funds to offset this cost. However, where we place our juvenile offenders now, and in the months and perhaps years ahead, and at what cost to the county are immediate questions.

Though the answers are not clear, I know this predicament must morph into opportunity. In Austin, we never have looked solely to the state for "the solution." Ours is a caring, innovative community that has strived to help one another. We never viewed the big state institutions — miles away from Austin — as the ideal setting for our troubled young people. I've never thought our children should be someone else's problem, and I've detected that overwhelming sentiment from most people I've met.

Helping our children at home also makes our community accountable for the outcome, and that is a good thing. Our programs must be good enough for my own child. If your child fell into drugs, engaged in dangerous behavior or broke our laws, what would you not do to help him? The troubled children I see in court are not somebody else's children. They are ours and we should hold them responsible for their actions and provide them the best treatment possible.

Thanks to generous community support, we have a secure juvenile facility near downtown Austin that serves hundreds of children a year. Over time, we have created a variety of programs tailored to meet the individual needs of our children, such as our Leadership Program, where families are a part of the treatment process, coming to weekly therapy sessions with their children — something that would not be possible with a Youth Commission commitment. More than 500 employees work with children through the court system, on community supervision, in our detention facility and through the adjacent intermediate sanctions facility. We are constantly developing ideas that we hope will save lives, save money and protect the community.

I am proud of our community's efforts and of our employees who work wonders with troubled children. The state crisis will no doubt strain our resources. This just makes our vision for new juvenile programs even more important. The possibilities are as endless as our imagination, and I welcome your ideas. As we face the impact of the state upheaval, we need and appreciate your support.

Meurer is chairwoman of the Travis County Juvenile Board.