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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />TO: City Council <br /> <br />FROM: Bryan Bear, City Administrator <br /> <br />SUBJECT: Northeast Youth and Family Services Contract <br /> <br />DATE: April 1, 2021 for the City Council meeting of April 5, 2021 <br /> <br />BACKGROUND: <br /> <br />After years of discussion during regular budget cycles, in 2011, the Hugo City Council began <br />approving annual expenditures from the City budget toward youth diversion programs. At the <br />time, youth diversion services were provided through The White Bear Counseling Center, and <br />the Forest Lake Youth Service Bureau. These programs divert teenagers away from the justice <br />system to alternative systems that address offensive or illegal behavior by identifying and <br />treating any underlying causes. <br /> <br />Since 2011, the City council has budgeted $12,000 annually for this purpose, with half going to <br />each organization. The White Bear Counseling Center has since merged with a similar <br />organization and is now known as Northeast Youth and Family Services (NYFS). In Forest <br />Lake, the organization is now known as Lakes Center for Youth and Families (LC4YF). Youth <br />from Hugo are typically referred to the program through the school systems, the court systems, <br />and area police and sheriff departments. Both organizations serve youth from the entire <br />community, however students attending either White Bear Lake or Mahtomedi School Districts <br />tend to be served primarily by NYFS, while students attending Forest Lake are typically served <br />by LC4YF. <br /> <br />The City Council has received regular annual updates concerning these services and has <br />recognized the effectiveness of the programs for youth within the community. The City has been <br />operating under a contract for services from each organization and the City’s $6,000 contribution <br />to each organization has not changed. <br /> <br />ANALYSIS: <br /> <br />Each organization is managed by an Executive Director or President, with oversight from a <br />Board of Directors. Last year, the NYFS Board of Directors had discussion on revenues and <br />noted a disparity in contributions from communities. The Board, which is made up primarily of <br />municipal representatives, set a benchmark of $2 per capita for contributions from communities. <br />Nearly all communities within the NYFS service area have since agreed to this level of <br />contribution. <br /> <br />CITY OF HUGO <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM