TRENTON
- The New Jersey Governor’s Juvenile
Justice and Delinquency Prevention (JJDP)
Committee has awarded a grant to Unified
Vailsburg Services Organization (UVSO)
to provide young people with summer employment.
The award is in the amount of $18,000.
This Summer Expansion Program grant provides
employment and community services for
15 students from the Vailsburg, Newark
area. During the seven week program, students
engage in neighborhood service projects
and leadership workshops, while earning
money from paid employment through the
program. Younger participants are employed
at the UVSO, while older participants
are employed at outside jobs as preschool
aides, camp counselors, and at banks,
auto shops and photography studios. The
participants are also advised by mentors
from the program.
“The
Youth Leadership Corps program provides
important services for the people of its
community. Through the support of the
JJDP Committee, Unified Vailsburg Services
Organization has been able to provide
a critical link between work and community
service. By offering work opportunities
for neighborhood teens, as well as providing
vital community service projects to the
residents of the Vailsburg area, this
organization continues to make a valuable
contribution to the stability of the community,”
said Mark El-Amin, Director, United Vailsburg
Services Organization Leadership Corps
Program.
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 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. 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 Howard L. Beyer, Executive
Director of the JJC. 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.