SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) Minnehaha County funds Lutheran Social Service's Arise Youth Center, a multi-layer program that keeps at-risk youth out of detention.
Sheila Weber says the LSS Reception Center serves as a safe place for youth not facing charges and those facing lower level charges.
Weber says since May, Shelter Care has served 178 youths staying an average of ten days.
Weber says about 60% of the youth come through either program only once. She says about 25% come through twice. So there's only a small number that come through more than twice.
She says perception is that the same kids are coming through either program, or having law enforcement involvement, repeatedly, but that's not the case.
Weber says since Shelter Care opened in May, 94 youths have come from Minnehaha County, 46 from the Departments of Correction or Social Services and 37 have come from partner counties. The daily capacity for Shelter Care is 15.
Youth served are between 10 and 17 and are referred by the court.
Weber briefed the Minnehaha County Commission earlier this week on the LSS youth programs.
