Getting to youthful behavior problems before a child has to be sent away to Lincoln Hills has proven to be a success. That assessment from Mary Rideout, Director of Oneida County Social Services. In a report to the county board Tuesday, Rideout says it costs Oneida county about $250 dollars a day to place a youth at the Lincoln Hills School near Irma.
She says a year ago, Social Services began Coordinated Service Teams to work more intensively with at-risk youth. She says family and counselors and others sit together to work up a plan for the child...
"...whoever is involved in the child's life, brings them together, and the family comes up with a plan how to maintain that child in their home....."
Rideout says they will always have some placement costs but the new approach appears to be having a positive impact on the youth, and if they aren't placed at Lincoln Hills, will save money for the county.
