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Sawyer County HHS seeks to expand diversion and marks child‑welfare permanency work; Act 161 agreement planned
Summary
The county reported new grant‑funded diversion and in‑home support programs are beginning staff recruitment, highlighted recent permanency work that reduced uncertainty for 10 children, and said it will bring a written agreement under Wisconsin Act 161 to the committee next month for review.
Sarah, Sawyer County's Child Protective Services and Youth Justice supervisor, told the committee the department is beginning to staff new grant‑funded programs intended to expand diversion and family‑based services.
Sarah said the county is making an offer to a candidate for the youth diversion and truancy specialist position and expects the person to start within a couple of weeks. She described a contracted program (referred to in the meeting as Sirona) that will deliver family‑based supports and in‑home services to help parents reassert caregiving authority and reduce the county’s delinquency referrals. The department also expects to hire a part‑time therapist through that contract to increase therapeutic capacity in homes.
The committee recognized staff member Bridal Prince for work on establishing permanency for children in county care. Sarah said the work — including court hearings and paperwork — resulted in termination of parental rights petitions where required and gave 10 children clarity about long‑term living arrangements, either through adoption, guardianship, or placement with kin.
Looking ahead, staff said they will present a written agreement under 1983 Wisconsin Act 161 to the committee next month. The county described the agreement as a two‑party mechanism for payments and cooperation when tribal court or county orders place Indian children out of home; staff said the draft will go to tribal counsel and county corp counsel, then to the committee for consideration.
The department also reported progress on forensic interviewing capacity: one county staff member completed a forensic interviewing course and conducted an interview for law enforcement, and the county plans to start a multidisciplinary team (MDT) with law enforcement and other partners. Staff said the county previously relied on an external child advocacy center and will now develop in‑house capacity.
No formal votes were taken on these program changes during the meeting; staff said details and draft agreements will be brought to future meetings for committee review.
