BACKUS 鈥� Intakes at the Northwestern Minnesota Juvenile Center in Bemidji rose slightly in 2021 compared to the previous year, the Cass County Board learned.
Mindy O鈥橞rien, superintendent of the juvenile justice center in Bemidji, shared the annual report along with a programming update at the Tuesday, March 15, board meeting. A total of 76 youths were part of the program last with the majority between the ages of 14-17 years old and of Native American ethnicity.
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O鈥橞rien also shared updates to programming the center offers, including in-house therapeutic services, use of the sweat lodge approved by the school district as class credit and a therapeutic dog named Willa.
During the past year, the center was able to utilize Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act funds to build an activites court, purchase dayroom furniture and update intake. Another update at the center was the switch to a self-run kitchen in August. With the center having its own kitchen, it is able to offer higher-quality homemade meals and apply for various grants to aid in the purchase of food.
During the first quarter of 2022, the center was awarded the following grants: $2,500 from Farm to Table; $ 2,750 from Fresh Fruits and Vegetables; $6,100 from Supply Chain Assistance; $9,200 from U.S. Department of Agriculture 歪歪漫画 Lunch Program Commodities and the preliminary approval of an equipment grant in the amount of $16,445.
Bob Smith, cultural coordinator at the center, introduced the youths in attendance to perform on a feather drum they constructed themselves. Smith also shared the cultural programs are open to all youths who reside at the facility but are limited to smaller numbers because only so many people can fit around a drum.
A second drum may be constructed because the number of residents wanting to participate in this program is increasing, but it is expensive. The expansion of this program will be explored to allow more participation, Smith said.
