By By JOHN EBY / Niles Daily Star
CASSOPOLIS - Commissioner Jack Teter acknowledged Tuesday he is "exploring the possibility of starting, establishing or helping to get a youth correctional facility, possibly a boot camp, for children that we can keep from getting into our court system."
Teter, R-Edwardsburg, said his investigation led him to the Brothers of Holy Cross.
Commissioner Terri Kitchen, R-Silver Creek Township, reported on activities of the Human Services Coordinating Council (HSCC), which she chairs.
The HSCC "is made up of any agency that deals with the health, security and welfare of our county constituents," Kitchen said. "This year we had domestic violence cross-training. Two nationally-recognized cross-trainers came and we had people from four counties attend," including the United Council for Children, Friend of the Court, Family Independence Agency (FIA), Prosecutor's Office, Area Agency on Aging, Council on Aging, the Sheriff's Office, Domestic Assault Shelter Coalition, police officers, Mental Health, educators and social workers.
HSCC "is a really significant body of people," Kitchen told commissioners. "It's important that this group knows that these people meet once a month, they collaborate, they help each other out with grants, they bring money into the county and they better the welfare of our citizens."
HSCC meets the second Wednesday each month at 7:45 a.m. at Southwestern Michigan College's Mathews Library.