RELEASE: June 15, 2000

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TRENTON -- The Department of Human Services has awarded nearly $400,000 in grants to eight community based agencies for community projects that will benefit minority males.

The Minority Males Community Challenge Grant initiative provides up to $50,000 over two years as start-up funding for community projects that encourage and foster self-reliance and healthy, productive lifestyles among the minority male population.

"Statistics point to serious problems facing New Jersey’s young minority males:

For them, the unemployment rate is higher, life expectancy is lower and the risk of contracting AIDS is greater than for white males," said Human Services Commissioner Michele K. Guhl. "We have been awarding these grants each year to help communities address these and other problems facing their minority male populations."

Projects address in concrete ways the grant program goals of keeping minority males in school, connected to the community and developing skills to reach their full potential.

Funds can be used either to establish a new program or a new component to an existing program; or to expand an existing program by serving a segment of the minority male population not currently being served.

The idea of awarding funds to community-based agencies developed at New Jersey’s first Conference on Minority Males in December 1991. The first grants totaling $82,134 were awarded in 1992.

The contract period for this year's grants is May 1, 2000 through April 30, 2002.

Community programs awarded grants include the following:

Horizon Health Center - Jersey City

The project will provide a male health educator to be on-site at each school-based clinic to conduct workshops, develop individualized plans for success and link minority males with other needed services.

Community Action Services Center, Inc. - Hightstown

The project will provide an in-school mentoring program that will assist immigrant males to assimilate into the school environment. The program will include mentoring in the following areas: reducing language barriers, peacefully resolving conflicts, team building, learning sexual responsibility, goal setting and job readiness.

Group Homes of Camden County, Inc. - Camden

Project Manhood will provide prevention services for African-American males, ages eight to 14, and their families through training, drug prevention and peer resistance classes, mentoring, health evaluation, education and career development.

Monmouth Center for Vocational Rehabilitation - Toms River

The project will provide job preparation activities, resume writing and interviewing skills, on-site job support, and other support services as needed for minority males to maintain employment.

Communities in Schools of New Jersey, Inc. - Elizabeth

The project operated in conjunction with the Elizabeth High School/The Sunset Program will provide services geared towards raising the level of awareness of young men in the areas of education, job development/pre-employment training and mentoring.

Monmouth County Urban League, Inc. - Asbury Park

The project will provide technical instruction, life and interpersonal skills training, self-esteem counseling and mentoring services designed to expand the range of choices and options available to minority males.

Newark Preschool Council, Inc. - Newark

The project is designed to provide education and training for minority males as Teacher Assistants and Special Services Assistants in an early childhood education program.

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence of Middlesex County

New Brunswick & Franklin

The project will provide computer skills training for forty males between the ages of 15 and 17 from the Franklin and New Brunswick area.