The Daily Dispatch

Wilkin County Family Service Agency is reporting a slight uptick in child protection cases this year.

Fifty-nine cases were reported as of November, up seven from last year. Nineteen of the cases this year were related to drugs and alcohol, which is double compared to the last, said Jen Beyer, social worker, at a Wilkin County Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drugs (ATOD) meeting on Thursday.

"Maybe the numbers don't sound so big, but on the other hand, it's in a small county," said Brenda Woytassek, coordinator. "Even though some of our other numbers are going down, this particular segment is not."

Members wondered if economics is playing a hand in the increase, as emergency assistance funding to needy families is the highest it's been since 2006. The one-time funding helps families cover unexpected housing foreclosures, utility shut offs and other emergencies. From Jan. 1 to Sept. 30, families were paid an average $862.

County Attorney Tim Fox said more data needs to be provided before making any assumptions. Some residents in Rothsay and Campbell, for instance, tend to be very transient, and an individual-based analysis would almost be necessary, he said.

"We don't have a stagnant population," he said. "We may have a situation where somebody moves in, or somebody in town who regularly takes in juveniles from out of state."

Beyer agreed, saying a family could reside in Wilkin County for 60 days, get their emergency funding and move out.

"Which is what we see often happening with jobs," she said.

In other business:

• ATOD continues to consider a bullying curriculum for county schools. Member Kelly Larson said she will contact Rothsay and Campbell schools to gauge interest before bringing the issue to the committee. Woytassek said she would like to write the curriculum into the next five-year grant and implement it by next fall.

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