HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976 08-03 Youth bureau grows becuase of hard work, cooperation DISPATCH St.Paul Dispatch Tues.,Aug.3,'76
Youth bureau grows because of hard work, cooperation
By JOSEPH LYELL Council, one of four sponsors of dency workshops and job place- to seek help without ever being lice chiefs, city council mem- Ninety five per cent of the bu-
Staff Writer the bureau, which is designed to ment. confronted by the police. When bers, school district represents- reau's operating cost is funded
help young people and their a kid has this type Of confidence tives and three high school stu- by a three-year grant from the
Growthwork characterized tion the first year lemsort,
fami�ies with a variety of prob- from Sept.15,ACCORDIN1975,through to the July comfortain an blelzation going there,can
think dents. The remainingor's Crime
5 per cent isCommission.
paid
of the East Communities Youth 15, 1976, the bureau provided this is the ultimate. I know of a M e m b e r s include Wagner; by the local sponsors.
Service Bureau, according to its The other three sponsors are job counseling for 360 individu- few instances where this has Chief Richard Schaller, Maple-
first annual report. Maplewood, North St. Paul and als, placing 75. Another 60 happened. Prior to the bureau wood; Chief Thomas Langeslay, The bureau's funding is due
THE REPORT was submitted N o r t h St. Paul-Maplewood found jobs on their own. we didn't have anything like North St. Paul; Councilman Ted to run out by August,1978.
last week to the Oakdale City School District 622. In addition The bureau to date has this."Wagner said. Bearth, Oakdale; Councilman "We are a 1 r e a d y seeking
to serving the three cities and all Wylie Haukland, North St. Paul; fourth-year funding. We are
of District 622,the bureau serves worked with more than 1,600 THE BUREAU,located at 1709 Terry Anderson, Maplewood; aiming at 50 per cent local mon-
Lake Elmo,Woodbury and the persons from the participating N. McKnight Road, Maplewood, George Von Drashek and Robert ey and 50 per cent outside mon-
communities.Landfall area. communities. Over 40 per cent has five paid staff members, Resnick, District 622. The three ey. I believe in the concept of a
of the bureau's referrals came about 22 volunteers and an 11- high school students include youth service bureau which is,
from the police. member policy-making board. Tanya Bransford, Maplewood; problems
offer young people with
working
"AFTER spendingI2 areasarI "Our top priority is to divert The board is made up of po- King,BetNorth Gall;St.Paul. Lescher
and Robin Lescher said. second chance,"
inner-city young people from the criminal
was surprised to find so few justice system whenever we can.
available resources in the sub- The police have been very coop-
urbs for young people with erative in helping us do this,"
problems," Ray Lescher, direc- Lescher said.
for of the bureau, said in an in-
terview. "WHEN WE pick up a kid
"Consequently we have been who has never been in trouble
able to branch out in a wide before,most of the time we send
range of areas." them to the bureau," Oakdale
Police Chief Ron Wagner said.
The bureau offers family, in-
dividual, marital, drug and job "I know of one case where a
counseling. It also has tutoring, girl who admittedly had a
farming and big brother-big sis- drinking problem found out
ter programs, chemical depen- about the bureau and went there