MONTGOMERY – Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded three grants totaling $116,500 to provide youth in several east Alabama counties with the structure and guidance they need to achieve success in and out of the classroom and become productive citizens.
The juvenile justice grants will fund programs affecting youth in Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne, DeKalb, Etowah, Lee and Macon counties. Each program is geared toward helping juveniles make wise decisions that will benefit them throughout their lives.
“Young people must have positive influences in their lives in order to develop good behavior and sound judgement,” Gov. Ivey said. “These programs provide a challenging structure that youths of all ages need in order to progress toward a brighter, more successful future.”
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Justice.
“ADECA joins Gov. Ivey and these programs in supporting and instructing youth to make good decisions that will lead to long and satisfying lives,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said.
Grant recipients, amount and projects are:
Extended Family for Kids (Centre) – $16,500 to provide structure, counseling and positive role model interaction for children in Calhoun, Cherokee, DeKalb and Etowah counties who have family members in jail or prison.
United Way of East Central Alabama – $50,000 to support the Helping Families Initiative, which is a partnership program with the District Attorney’s Office and the Calhoun and Cleburne counties school systems and is geared toward preventing and reducing chronic absenteeism and truancy of students in the two counties.
I Am My Brother’s Keeper Inc. (Auburn) – $50,000 for the program which serves students in Lee and Macon counties and assists them with school tutoring, job training, social and life skills and provides family and individual counseling.
ADECA administers an array of programs supporting law enforcement and traffic safety, economic development, energy conservation, water resource management and recreation development.
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Media Contact
Jim Plott or Mike Presley
ADECA Communications and External Affairs
(334) 242-5525
