The Office of Community Justice is providing the grants to the youth-serving, community-based organizations to strengthen and/or develop partnerships with those who can best assist at-risk youths.  These partners include police, youth serving organizations, educators, and other key stakeholders, and will coordinate a network of support and assistance to vulnerable youth 21-years-old or under, who face adverse experiences or circumstances and who reside in an economically disadvantaged or high-crime area.

“These grants go a long way towards fostering relationships between at-risk youths and those to whom they should turn for guidance - educators, police officers and community  service providers,” Acting Attorney General Hoffman said.  “I can think of no better use for these funds than to spend them on our young people.” 

“The program’s goal is prevention,” Office of Community Justice Director Wanda Moore said. “We aim to foster positive youth development by coordinated access to a range of services and programs to address individual needs and challenges.  Our goal is to deter youth from becoming involved in delinquent or criminal behaviors and to reduce juvenile recidivism.”

Youth referred to the network will be screened and assessed to determine suitability for the program, to identify underlying issues, comprehensive needs, and individual strengths.  A collaborative case plan will then be developed for youth accepted into the program.  The case plan will include the involvement of parents, guardians, or other caring adults and community supports.  Case plans will include connections to social services, counseling, treatment, mentoring and other needed services, and where appropriate, may address family or care-giver issues as a component of the overall intervention strategy.    

Under the grant, each agency will receive initial funding, with the possibility of renewed funding the following year.

The following agencies have been awarded funding by the Office of Community Justice:

• The Boys and Girls Club of Vineland will manage 50 at-risk middle to high school-age students from Vineland, Bridgeton and Millville.  The program will serve youth who demonstrate a combination of the following risk factors: first-time non-felony juvenile offense/arrest, curfew violations, a history of running away from home, chronic school absenteeism or lateness, suspected gang involvement, exhibiting defiant behavior at school and/or engaging in excessive bullying.  Among those services the Boys and Girls Club and partners will offer are substance abuse and mental health treatment, family and individual counseling, job training and employment placement, mentoring and academic help.  The Boys and Girls Club of Vineland has received $125,000 for a one-year program with the potential for an additional $125,000 in the second year.

• YouthBuild Newark will serve 100 young people ages 16 to 21 who have dropped out of high school or are returning to the community from custody.  Referrals to the program will be received from other youth (including via social media), parents, parole/probation officers and other youth-serving organizations.  The goal of the program is to re-engage dropouts through school and community-based intervention provide rigorous academic instruction, workforce training and social-emotional support that will deter delinquency and prepare these young people for college and professional careers.  Participants in the program will matriculate at the Newark Leadership Academy, an alternative vocational high school for over-aged and under credited students designed by YouthBuild and the Newark Public Schools.  YouthBuild Newark has received $125,000 for a one-year program with the potential for an additional $125,000 in the second year.

• Northwest New Jersey Community Action Partnership (NORWESCAP), located in Phillipsburg, will target at least 50 youth referred for station house adjustment and provide additional services to hundreds of families looking for information, help and resources in the community.  This program will strengthen the Station House Adjustment process by acting as a “one-stop” location for all municipal police departments in Warren County and will partner with the Phillipsburg Police Department as a central referral point.  Station House Adjustment is a diversionary program for juvenile offenders involved in low-level offenses, which may be appropriately resolved without formal adjudication process.  Among the services NORWESCAP will offer are: case management and crisis services, economic development and employment/career building, life skills and literacy training, parenting and/or fatherhood programming, in-home support and services, housing and transportation.  NORWESCAP has received $100,000 for a one year program with the potential for second-year award of $75,000.

• Brick City Synergy, led by Rutgers University School of Nursing, will serve 75 Newark youth through a network of existing youth and family agencies or order to prevent and deter youth from becoming involved in delinquent or criminal behavior and to foster positive youth and family development.  Referrals to BSC will come from local schools, station house adjustment matters, clergy, health care providers, the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, parents, care givers or other community groups.  Among services offered are parent and family supports including linkage to employment, benefit services and mentoring.  Brick City Synergy has received $100,000 for a one year program with the potential for second-year award of $75,000.

• Robin’s Nest in Glassboro has developed a program that will target 60-75 children per year in Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem Counties who are at risk, and who have had adverse childhood experiences such as high poverty, violent crime, child abuse and neglect.  By using the existing network of providers and supports, Robin’s Nest will aim to enhance and improve current services available across the tri-county area.  Among services that Robin’s Nest will offer are: case management and crisis services, academic support, family support and services and transportation.  Robin’s Nest is awarded $100,000 for a one year program with the potential for second-year award of $75,000.

• Community Planning and Advocacy Council (CPAC), located in Pennsauken, will serve as the single point of intake for 25 youth returning from custody, or who are referred through the courts, police or schools.  CPAP plans, advocates and coordinates Camden County’s human services programs.  It works with over 300 social service agencies, health agencies, and numerous public and private organizations with the aim that all individuals and families in greater Camden County.   Among services that CPAC will provide are: mental health, substance abuse and co-occurring treatment; anger management, trauma informed counseling; parenting, education and early intervention programming; mentoring; gang abatement programming; and sex offender treatment.  CPAC is awarded $100,000 for a one year program with the potential for second-year award of $75,000.

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