TRENTON
- The New Jersey Governor’s Juvenile
Justice and Delinquency Prevention (JJDP)
Committee has awarded a grant to Catholic
Charities, Trenton Diocese to address
the needs of young people from Ocean County
who are challenged with Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and related
emotional/behavioral disorders including
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and
Asperger’s Syndrome. The award is
in the amount of $14,168.
The Programs for Exceptionally Able Kids
(PEAK) Grant is designed to act in the
place of a conventional summer camp. A
therapeutic approach is taken to increase
social skills and improve educational
performance. Participants in the camp
will attend programs that focus on areas
such as, problem solving and interpersonal
relations. During the six week program,
the youth attend camp five days a week.
Camp PEAK also offers group sessions where
the participants’ parents or guardians
are able to discuss the challenges of
parenting those with special needs.
“Camp PEAK provides a fun-filled,
therapeutic and educational summer for
children whose emotional or behavioral
challenges prevent them from being able
to attend traditional summer camp. Funding
from the JJDP Committee makes it possible
for these children to develop skills and
build lasting memories of a truly enjoyable
summer,” said Bob Hodnett, Associate
Director of Children and Family Services
of Catholic Charities.
The Juvenile Justice Commission (JJC),
which is 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 receive
funding work with individuals, families
and communities to reduce the risk factors
associated with delinquency. 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. We are proud to
be part of a partnership that takes a
proactive approach to help adolescents
and their families” said Howard
L. Beyer, Executive Director, JJC. We
know that the earlier we reach out to
children, particularly those who have
emotional or behavioral disorders, 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.
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