County pursues more options for youth care
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An alternative youth facility will be opening in Ward County to address an ongoing need for shelter care.
The Ward County Commission voted Tuesday to spend about $10,000 on some updates and additional security in a downtown county building that had seen use for youth services in the past. This space is in addition to a new facility the county assisted Youthworks in acquiring last year to provide shelter care services under contract.
Kristi Frederick, director of the Ward County Human Service Zone, said there are a variety of reasons that some youth cannot be served by Youthworks, including lack of space or staff, behavioral concerns or timing out of the system under legal rules addressing how juvenile services are provided.
The human service zone has responsibility for their temporary care until a placement, such as foster care, can be found.
Youth numbers have been small. Frederick said the human service zone may have none or up to three or four in its care at any given time, and it has been providing 24-hour supervision for those youth in the Ward County Administration Building.
Because the administration building isn't an ideal location, Frederick brought a request to the commission from the human service zone board for space in the Morgan building, a former print shop used for various functions after being acquired by the county.
Commissioner Howard "Bucky" Anderson questioned whether the need for the alternative youth building is permanent or if the state is looking for a way to address that overflow care.
"It is a continuation of our services that have to be provided because these children have been court-ordered into our care and custody," Frederick said. "I have absolutely addressed this with state stakeholders at the Department of Children and Family Services. They are aware that we continue to have this need, and we are not the only zone that has this need. To date, there has been no other resolution that's come forth from the state. So I cannot project how long we may find ourselves in this position, where we're providing care to children that have no other place to go."
The problem began shortly after the state adopted new juvenile laws addressing care for youth, but Frederick said it is an issue across the country.
"There's also a national trend to shift away from congregate care, which is the group homes. So when that funding goes away and you can't use some of the pots of federal money for congregate care because there isn't any, this is a natural result," she said.
Deputies recognized for traffic safety
Two Ward County deputies were honored Tuesday for their work in traffic safety by Vision Zero, a statewide program to reduce traffic fatalities.
Deputies Kayla Powers and Casey Visocsky were presented with commemorative coins for their efforts, which included issuing hundreds of traffic citations addressing alcohol and drug use, speed, lack of seatbelts and other safety issues.
"Their consistent and solid enforcement has undoubtedly saved lives on North Dakota roads," said Vision Zero Regional Coordinator Kyle Patterson. "It's clear that both deputies have shown an unwavering commitment to public safety, and we are very fortunate to have them be our dedicated law enforcement on our roads."
Powers has contributed to traffic safety by participating in impaired driving and seatbelt enforcement periods, completing the advanced roadside impaired driving enforcement course and educating the public on impaired driving.
Visocsky also has participated in impaired driving and seatbelt enforcement periods, completed drug recognition expert training and provided community education.
- Jill Schramm