TRENTON
- The New Jersey Governor’s Juvenile
Justice and Delinquency Prevention (JJDP)
Committee has awarded a grant to Arts
Horizons to utilize poetry and music to
improve learning in the City of Orange
through the program, Creative Alternatives
for Youth at Risk (CAYR). The award is
in the amount of $18,000.
This Summer Expansion Program Grant provides
25 elementary and middle school students
a safe place to engage in positive activities.
Most of the students in the CAYR program
are considered at-risk of involvement
with the juvenile justice system. The
CAYR teachers and artists design the activities
based on the students’ needs and
talents. Role-playing, self-expression
and cooperation through poetry music,
and improvisation are used to teach communication
skills, tolerance and build self-esteem.
"The
creative minds of the young people of
Orange have been enriched and expanded
through exposure to a variety of the arts.
The commitment and dedication of the teaching
artists, combined with the untapped talents
of the children, has proven to create
a glorious camaraderie. Children, year
after year, return to the program excited
about what they are going to learn and
experience. As an educator it pleases
me greatly when a young adult returns
for a visit and immediately asks about
Arts Horizons. This program has had a
positive impact on so many children of
Orange. I am truly proud to be a part
of it," said Sharon Fink, Supervising
Teacher, Arts Horizons.
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, 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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