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Sawyer County officials report juvenile shooting; county plans new truancy diversion program
Summary
County child welfare staff reported a recent juvenile shooting in which a youth survived, said an eviction of a problematic household, and described plans to start a truancy diversion program that will pick up chronically truant students after 10 consecutive unexcused days.
Sarah, a child-protective-services staff member, told the Sawyer County Health and Human Services Board on Jan. 7 that “a little over a week ago, one of our juveniles was shot.” She said the youth is expected to survive after being shot in the arm and face; “the bullet got lodged in his tongue.”
The shooting prompted enforcement action: Sarah said the Lac Courte Oreilles (LCO) Tribal Government Board moved to evict the family she linked to increases in local gun violence. She said a juvenile believed to have committed the shooting is in custody and that an uncle taken into custody was released on a signature bond.
Board members and staff also discussed a new truancy diversion position and partnering program. Sarah said the county is hiring for a new truancy position tied to a diversion program; the position will be posted soon and Sirona (the contracted program lead for a grant) will help hire staff for that program. She said the county met with Judge Smith and expects the program to start by flagging 10-day school drops — cases when a student has missed 10 consecutive days — so the county can intervene earlier with supports and referrals.
Sarah said the program aims to catch chronically truant students who “generally get dropped” without follow-up and to work with families on enrollment, supports and accountability. She said other, less chronic truancy cases will continue to be handled by citations or other enforcement measures when appropriate.
Board members asked about numbers of truant children; Sarah said exact counts are not yet known and that estimates will improve once 10-day drop notifications begin.
The discussion also referenced use of contracted diversion staff and collaboration with the tribal court; no formal board action was taken during the discussion.
The board did not vote on the truancy program at the meeting; staff said hiring and program design work will continue and that more information will be available after the position is posted and the first 10-day drop data are received.
