TRENTON - The New Jersey Governor’s
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
(JJDP) Committee has awarded $170,000
to Saint Barnabus Behavioral Health lnstitute
for Prevention. The Saint Barnabus Behavioral
Health Institute will use the funds for
its program, “Project G.R.O.W.”
- Girls Reaching Overall Wellness.
The JJC,
which is the designated planning authority
in regard to 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 grants
to local and state agencies. The JJDP
Committee reviews proposals for programs
that will reduce delinquency and create
local delinquency prevention programs.
Programs that receive funding work with
individuals, families and communities
to reduce risk factors associated with
delinquency.
“The
need for quality delinquency prevention
programs for girls in this state has been
markedly increasing as girls become more
and more involved in delinquency,”
said Committee Chairperson B. Thomas Leahy.
“Our committee is pleased to be
able to provide support for this comprehensive
response to a very real community need.”
Project G.R.O.W. will focus its efforts
on 30 young women from Monmouth and Ocean
Counties, aged 14 to 18, who have already
been involved in, or who are at-risk of
becoming involved in the juvenile justice
system. Project G.R.O.W. will work with
the young women for one year.
“The
Juvenile Justice Commission 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,
Juvenile Justice Commission. “We
know that the earlier we reach out to
children, the better chance we have of
ensuring that they lead productive lives.
We cannot wait until children are in trouble
to intervene.”
Created in 1995 to bring together services
for delinquent youth, the JJC is the state
agency responsible for providing juvenile
correctional rehabilitation and parole
services. The JJC also funds local prevention
programs to divert youth from involvement
in the juvenile justice system.
Project G.R.O.W. will use a gender-specific
case management approach to provide services
to the program participants and their
families to support personal, social and
emotional needs. This comprehensive program
will assess, address and ensure access
to critical physical, mental and behavioral
health services for at-risk and delinquent
juvenile females. It will also provide
health education and life-skills training
to promote a healthy and drug-free lifestyle.
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 visit: www.njjjc.com.