TRENTON
- The New Jersey Governor’s Juvenile
Justice and Delinquency Prevention (JJDP)
Committee has awarded a grant to the Newark
Public Schools to address the needs of
young people in transition from school
to the world of work, college, or other
post-secondary training. The award is
in the amount of $18,000.
This Summer Expansion Grant allows ten
Newark Public School students, ages 14
to 17, to engage in an entrepreneurial
experience. During the five week program,
the students operate a farm stand, which
provides Newark City residents with affordable
nutritious foods. Participants acquire
important business skills such as, customer
relations, team work, conflict resolution
and record keeping, through the program’s
three components of work-based learning,
school based-learning, and connecting
activities.
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
JJDP Committee has provided the students
of the Newark Public Schools the wonderful
opportunity of owning and operating their
own business. The Newark Public Schools
Youth Farmstand Project allows our students
to learn valuable entrepreneurial skills,
put into practice the academic skills
learned during the school year and assist
the community by supplying nutritious,
Jersey fresh produce to low income mothers,
their children and seniors. The students
are viewed in such a positive light by
the community, their peers and most importantly
by themselves!” said Project Director
Jennifer Mitchell, Newark Public Schools.
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, 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.
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