School-based Youth Diversion Pilot Program in Minnesota

Dr. Myklebust is the project leader of the State of Minnesota’s School-based Youth Diversion Program for students with co-occurring disorders.  The program is managed through the Minnesota Department of Human Resources (DHS) and was funded by the State Legislature.

The project has been in existence for four years and includes these pilot sites:  Minneapolis Roosevelt High School, Robbinsdale Cooper & Armstrong High Schools, Owatonna High School in partnership with Fernbrook Family Services, Cloquet High School in partnership with North Homes Family Services, St. Cloud McKinley Alternative School in partnership with the Conflict Resolution Center (CRC), and Duluth Denfeld High School.

The pilots are designed to keep youth from being arrested at school and entering the school-to-prison pipeline by providing restorative practices, mental health counseling, and chemical health interventions. Wilder research is conducting the program evaluation and it is anticipated that the program will continue, and perhaps expand to other locales.