Minnesota spends millions sending troubled youth out-of-state for treatment
By Paul Blume – November 24, 2024
(FOX 9) – A review of state and county data as well as spending records highlights the challenge of addressing youth mental health issues in Minnesota, particularly among children coming through the juvenile justice system.
“With complex needs, you look to what is there,” explained Hennepin County Administrator David Hough. “And unfortunately, if there are not resources available in Minnesota, we look to other states. And that is where you have the out-of-home placements and the spend on out-of-home placements.”
In total this year, there have been applications submitted for at least 117 Minnesota kids for treatment facilities in another state, according to the Department of Children, Youth and Families.
Minnesota spends millions sending troubled youth out-of-state for treatment | FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul
Department of Youth Services trying to ‘right size’ programs to shifting populations
June 24, 2024
The executive director of the Alabama Department of Youth Services (DYS) Friday laid out potential changes to the department operations that he said reflected the changing needs of the population they serve.
Steven Lafreniere said at a meeting that the department, which administers juvenile justice and services, needed to accommodate longer-term stays of the children coming to the department.
“We’re getting in more serious kids, I would say or high risk kids that have more health, behavioral health needs as well as mental health needs,” he said. . . . Lafreniere said that the situation was aggravated due to issues around staffing and described it as a “perfect storm.”
https://alabamareflector.com/2024/06/24/department-of-youth-services-trying-to-right-size-programs-to-shifting-populations