TRENTON
- The New Jersey Governor’s Juvenile
Justice and Delinquency Prevention (JJDP)
Committee has awarded a grant to Hopeworks
‘N Camden to enable young people
at risk of involvement with the juvenile
justice system in Camden City to acquire
sought after technical skills and help
finding a job. The award is in the amount
of $12,151.
This Summer Expansion Program grant allows
27 young people from Camden to use technology
to gain employment. The program offers
two tracks, Hope Through School and Summer
Geographic Information Services (GIS).
The Hope Through School program trains
students in various computer applications
and Web site development, and guarantees
them an after school job upon successful
completion of the program. In the Summer
GIS program, students learn the process
of map making and land surveying to prepare
for neighborhood revitalization possibilities.
Three of the students from this program
will be selected to work at Hopeworks’
GIS business. Both programs encourage
participants to seek employment within
their neighborhoods and communities.
“Through
the JJDP Committee Summer Expansion Program,
Hopeworks has been able to hire 12 young
people to work on a survey project in
our GIS program and enroll 15 youth in
our Hope Through School program. Camden
youth are flourishing at Hopeworks because
of your generosity. Many, many thanks!”
said Kathleen Deitch, Formation Director,
Hopeworks ‘N’ Camden.
The Juvenile Justice Commission (JJC),
as the designated planning authority for
the allocation of federal grant funds,
works with the JJDP Committee to identify
appropriate programs, award funds and
monitor their success. The JJDP Committee
is responsible for the distribution of
more than $3 million in federal grant
awards annually to local and state agencies.
The JJDP Committee reviews proposals for
programs that aim to reduce delinquency
and/or seek to create local delinquency
prevention strategies. Programs that demonstrate
success are eligible for continued funding
for a maximum of three consecutive years.
The JJC is committed to helping local
communities address the specific needs
of their young people. It is important
to allow these young people a chance to
engage in positive programs that keep
them on the right track during the summer
months,” said JJC Executive Director
Howard L. Beyer. We know that the earlier
we reach out to children, the better chance
we have of ensuring that they lead productive
lives.
Created in 1995 to bring together services
for delinquent young people, the JJC is
the single state agency responsible for
providing juvenile correctional rehabilitation
and parole services. The JJC also funds
local prevention programs that divert
young people from involvement in the juvenile
justice system.
The project is monitored by staff from
the Program Development and Prevention
Services arm of the JJC’s Office
of Local Programs and Services.
For more information on the JJC, please
visit www.njjjc.com.