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Sunrise Youth Bureau presents 2024 annual report; city funding supports diversion, shelter and school programs
Summary
Sunrise Youth Bureau reported on 2024 activity including diversion, crisis intervention, shelter care and out-of-school suspension services; the commission thanked staff and noted the city’s contract-funded support.
Sunrise Youth Bureau Director Holly Prowse and staff member Amber Hofstead presented the organization’s 2024 annual report to the commission on April 15, describing services supported in part by city funding.
Prowse said city funds help support diversion, crisis intervention, prevention, out-of-school suspension programming, shelter care and attendant care. The bureau provides 24-hour on-call support for law enforcement needing temporary placement for youth and works with human-service zones, the Badlands Human Service Center and local schools. The bureau’s diversion program accepts first-time or minor offenses referred by Southwest District Juvenile Court, a program Prowse said keeps teens out of the juvenile justice system while holding them accountable.
Prowse reported a large increase in out-of-school suspension placements: from about 17 students in 2023 to 52 students in 2024. The bureau provides educational and restorative programming during suspensions and helps families with anger management, conflict resolution and referrals to other services.
Why it matters: commissioners praised the bureau’s adaptability and the role it plays for local law enforcement, human services and schools. The bureau emphasized partnerships with county, school and state agencies to maintain safety and provide alternatives to court processing.
Ending: Commissioners and staff commended Sunrise Youth Bureau; the bureau provided brochures for distribution and thanked the commission for continued support.
