TRENTON
- The New Jersey Governor’s Juvenile
Justice and Delinquency Prevention (JJDP)
Committee has awarded a grant to the Abilities
Center of Southern NJ to address employment
options for disabled and/or disadvantaged
youth from Camden City, Deptford, and
Paulsboro. The award is in the amount
of $20,000.
This is a Summer Expansion Program Grant,
which is designed to increase job readiness
and to enhance recreation and cultural
activities for young people. Ten disabled
and/or disadvantaged young people participate
in job readiness workshops, mock interviews
and resume preparation, supervised field
trips, and area recreational and cultural
activities. During the six week program,
the students attend school in the morning
and work in the afternoon. The school
curriculum focuses on an introduction
to the work force, making career decisions,
proper work behaviors, interview skills,
and obtaining and keeping a job.
“Abilities
Center of Southern NJ’s summer youth
program provides an array of activities
to students with disabilities that normally
would be without such opportunities in
the summer. Thanks to the JJC, this program
provides a transition service between
school and work for students from more
disadvantaged school districts, and supports
approximately half of the students attending,”
said Jim Kneubuehl, Director of Education
and Employment Services of the Abilities
Center of Southern NJ.
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.
“These young people participate
in paid work experiences at local businesses
as well as community and recreational
trips. The students learn new work skills
and practice appropriate social behavior.
Bottom line, they have fun in the summer
while improving their self sufficiency
and job readiness,” continued Kneubuehl.
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, 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.