Amended items - Laserfiche WebLink

The diversion program is a joint program of Youthworks, Fargo and West Fargo schools, and the Juvenile Court. Youth, primarily unruly youth are referred by the court directly or via a letter to the parents. The schools make referrals of youth that are expelled or suspended from school, most of these youth could be cited and referred to the court. When diverted they receive counseling on the behaviors resulting in the suspension, homework assistance and they complete community service. Minority youth are referred in the same manner and receive the same services. We have had numerous youth from various cultures who do not speak English. Interpreters are available. Last year we employed a Black/Native American who in now employed elsewhere. We are in the hiring process for cross-age mentors and teachers and hope to hire employees representative of the community's ethnic groups. Youthworks has an extensive, computerized management information system, which can provide all of the demographic, service, and outcome data needed to evaluate the effectiveness of the project. Data which will be available for analysis include: ..jDemographics of youth served ..j Amounts of services provided ..;Types of service ..jGeneral & Specific outcomes Measurable accomplishments will include: # families receiving, and the hours of, assessment services # families referred for supporting services and/or parenting education # of youth returning to school following suspension, hours of community service # of youth reported as truant and their attendance following referral # youth & families receiving mediation, and the hours of mediation provided # youth receiving, and the hours of, peer support, cross-age mentoring, group &lor individual counseling # families receiving, and the hours of, crisis intervention & family counseling # and es of lacement interventions utilized The Supreme Court obtained some discretionary funding for diversion in its current budget. $35000 has been awarded to Fargo-West Fargo and $15,000 for diversion outreach to Wahpeton, Jamestown and Valley City This funding, by itself, would not be adequate to serve the number of youth referred. It is the combination of funding that makes the program successful. With the demise of "refinancing" dollars the new court funding maintains the program size in Fargo. With the demise of the Fed/State funding, the suspension and expulsion program has proven itself and has be refunded by the schools themselves. Youthworks will continue to received funding United Way for family counseling. Funding for runaway youth via the Runaway Youth Act will continue to be available for a narrow subgroup of the unruly population. A fee system for diversion services, similar to that in Clay County, has been implemented to fund services on an ability to pay, although it provides only a small amount of funding. Supporting services for mentoring, family counseling and peer support will continue to be available, but case-management funding as proposed in this proposal is essential at this time.