Commissioners help fund youth diversion program

A young man's success story helped persuade Red Willow County commissioners Monday morning to continue the county's annual support of CEDARS Youth Services programs.

Commissioners made a $12,000 contribution to CEDARS' 2007-08 budget after CEDARS officials and Red Willow County's attorney spoke in favor of the program during the commissioners' regular weekly meeting.

County Attorney Paul Wood called CEDARS a "very worthwhile program."

CEDARS diversion program director Kathy Bell told commissioners about a young man, charged with minor in possession of alcohol, whom she described as "one of those smart-aleck teenage kids you hear about."

The teen was enrolled in the McCook Public Schools' alternative school when he began his diversion classes. Through CEDARS' programs, Bell said, "He became more focused. He made goals."

The young man enrolled back in regular high school classes, she said, and was on last semester's honor roll.

"He's enlisted in the Marines," Bell said. "It's a great success story, his wanting to give back to his community and his country ... wanting to serve."

Program director Michelle Orton said that CEDARS' diversion program focuses on a science-based informational and statistical drug and alcohol curriculum, and responsible decision-making that encompasses communication, goal-setting and appropriate responses to stress.

Orton said that offenders become involved in community service for, among others, the City of McCook and Red Willow County, McCook Community College, Hillcrest Nursing Home and the McCook Humane Society. "Sometimes community service turns into part-time jobs for these kids," Wood said, encouraging commissioners to continue the county's support of the program. "It's beneficial to the community."

Orton said referrals to the CEDARS programs increased in 2006, which is good, she said, because the program is reaching children and teens who need it, but bad because more kids are getting into trouble. "We successfully graduate 88 percent of the enrolled youths," Orton said.

CEDARS is funded with client fees, 32 percent; United Way, 12 percent; LB 640 state funding, 33 percent; and Red Willow County, 23 percent.

CEDARS' budget in McCook is $70,000 to $80,000.

Orton said she anticipates losing some grant funds as the end of grant cycles near. She will reapply for another five-year state Crime Commission grant.

Orton said she is writing three-year service plans for Frontier, Furnas and Hitchcock counties, where a portion of her diversion clients live.

"We have done diversion for kids in those counties," Orton told commissioners. "We'll request funds too."

Commission Chairman Earl McNutt said he is glad to see consistency in CEDARS' staffing in McCook, noting that Orton has been in the coordinator's position for more than a year. Wood said that consistent staffing may mean that CEDARS could be a "neutral facilitator" in juvenile court and foster care situations to keep kids in their homes or get them back home quicker, thus reducing the number of children in foster care.

Money spent keeping kids out of the court system and/or reducing the number of court-appointed attorneys is "money well spent," McNutt said.

"The bottom line is," McNutt said, "kids are getting a second chance."

Commissioner Leigh Hoyt made a motion to commit $12,000 to CEDARS' budget, the same amount as in 2006-2007, but asked that Orton and Bell investigate the possibility of introducing religion into the CEDARS curriculum.

Orton said CEDARS is looking into that possibility, and Bell said she wants to incorporate youth ministers and churches as an educational aspect of the diversion program.

Commissioners voted unanimously to support the CEDARS program.

Orton provided these statistics for 2006-2007:

* Youths ages 12 to 21 are the target population of CEDARS.

* 98 percent of referred youths enroll into the CEDARS program.

* 59 percent of referrals are male and 41 percent are female.

* High graduation rate of 88 percent.

* Offenders completed approximately 2,125 hours of community service in 2006-2007.

* Offenders returned nearly $20,400 in community service hours, volunteer hours and restitution to the Red Willow County community.

* CEDARS anticipates serving 150 youths in 2006-2007, and 180 in 2007-2008.