Grant provides counseling for ROCORI School District Stearns County was successful in obtaining a a grant for ongoing counseling and mental health services for the ROCORI School District. The board found out last week that they received the grant. Because it is a federal grant, it required the support of the State Department of Human Services and Governor Pawlenty. The board accepted the $222,000 federal emergency response grant that will increase counseling opportunities for students, staff and parents after the school shooting in ROCORI last September. The grant also provides some dollars for training emergency responders, counselors, staff and others to identify unusual behaviors in children, and to recognize and respond appropriately to trauma related events. County human services staff will pass most of the money on to Caritas Family Services, who will provide the services. Flag flies to remember children lost to violence A new red flag is hanging in the County Administration Center to remember thousands of children tragically killed by violence each year. The Child Welfare League of America launched a campaign in 1999 as part of an initiative to reduce child mortality. The Children’s Memorial Flag has been the center of this initiative, and has become the symbol for Child Protection Month and Child Welfare Week. The red flag depicts blue paper doll figures of children holding hands. In the center there is a white chalk outline of a missing child, symbolizing the children lost to violence. The flag was created by a 16-year-old from California. The Stearns County Children’s Justice Initiative – a group of people from the county attorney’s office, human services, public defenders, judges, guardians and others purchased the flag. County parks report The Board of Commissioners heard a report from the county parks department director about the activities in their department for the past year. Projects The Lake Wobegon Trail from Albany to Holdingford was paved, the trail from Avon to St. Joseph was constructed, and plans began for extending the trail to the Morrison County line. Work began on the disc golf course at Mississippi River Park near Sartell, a trailway was laid for the last segment of trail to be built at Quarry Park, and various other fencing and building projects took place. Usage A 17-day survey conducted at Quarry Park showed about half of the visitors to the park were from outside Stearns County, which shows the importance of the park as a regional attraction, not just local. Volunteers Volunteers stepped up to the plate to assist the parks department with a variety of activities. A total of 268 volunteers donated time to do things like Quarry Park ski patrol, trail clearing and trash pickup, Lake Wobegon Trail tree planting and clean-up, and Warner Lake Park trail trimming and tree transplanting Funding When it comes to bringing in money, the parks department brokered $428,000 in grants, received more than $43,000 in parking permit revenue, and received nearly $10,000 from shelter permit fees and donations. The department tried new initiatives to bring in additional dollars – advertising can now be found on park department vehicles, and a concession stand set up shop at Quarry Park’s swimming quarry. Good news for Stearns Country residents is that the total cost per capita of the county park and trail program has decreased. In 2003, the cost per capita was $6.08; in 2002 it was $6.26.
