Chase County considers becoming area’s lead entity for juvenile diversion program

The community-based Juvenile Services Aid Program, located at the Nebraska Crime Commission in Lincoln, provides funding to Nebraska counties for programs to divert youths from the juvenile justice system, and reduce the population of juveniles in detention.
    The funds are available through an application process. Funding requests are decided by a juvenile services community team and the county board of commissioners.
    On Friday morning, three representatives from the Juvenile Services Division in Lincoln were on hand at the Chase County Courthouse to discuss the Juvenile Diversion Program and explain the responsibilities of becoming the lead county managing funds for a six-county area.
    The staff members here from Lincoln were Amy Hoffman, Director, Juvenile Diversions Programs Division; Cynthia Kennedy, Chief, Community Aid Juvenile Services Division; and Teri King, financial grants monitor.
    For several years, Red Willow County has been the lead county managing funds and coordinating a juvenile diversion program for Chase, Dundy, Furnas, Hayes and Hitchcock Counties.
    Red Willow County decided to discontinue that management role.

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