POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)– Bannock County's 'The Village: A Place for Youth and Families' recently received the 2025 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties for the center's innovative approach to counseling kids and teens in the area.

Since opening in 2023, The Village has successfully served over 600 young people as a single point of contact for counseling and diversionary programs to keep kids out of the criminal justice system.

Matt Olsen, director of Bannock County Juvenile Justice, said the secret to The Village's success lies in the center's high-quality staffing and teamwork between dozens of area organizations.

"We collaborate with so many different agencies in the community," said Olsen. "We collaborate with local governments, universities, we collaborate wit

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