About 240 students are placed on probation in Allen County each year. Hundreds more, who could be charged with a crime, are diverted away from the court system. Instead, they are be lived to be better served through an intervention program.
"Locking a child up is not always the answer. In fact, many just come back," said Dianna Shurelds, juvenile probation officer.
Allen County Juvenile Court probation officers and intervention specialist work directly with schools to keep kids attending and learning.
Along with teachers, guidance counselors and principals, juvenile court employees can easily be found walking the halls of a school building.
"We go to school every day just about in Allen County. Doesn't matter what school, we're there. We go to "K" through 12 trying to help young people out," said Kevin Wilkerson, intervention specialist.
Intervention specialists work with social workers to find out why a student is missing class. The reason behind a truant student is rarely just a dislike of school.
"Some are homeless, some are low on food, they have probation officers, they have mental health issues," said Angie Heffner, school social worker.
When basic needs are met, students are more likely to attend and succeed.
Judge Glen Derryberry says Allen County's Juvenile Court has used diversion programs since the mid 1970's.
"The key is to get to the kids early, to get to the families early, so we can provide those early services," said Derryberry.
He says the programs make economic sense.
"The dollars we spend at the front end-- getting the background and the foundation they need in the early grades, pays off in the long run," said Derryberry.
"It saves us a lot of money at the back end when you're trying to provide remedial services."
And education is key to improving a young person's own economic situation. Heffner explains a situation she often hears about from adult students studying for their G.E.D.
"We have several students here that are employed, but most of them are working through temp services. They don't have the benefits, and they don't have overtime."
About 660 students take part in the court's diversion programs each year. Intervention specialists say they meet with hundreds more families to improve attendance and graduation rates.
