Strengthening Families Graduation
Juveniles and Parents attend ceremony concluding program

TRENTON -Twelve residents of the Juvenile Justice Commission (JJC) and their parents attended a graduation ceremony held at the Trenton City Hall Atrium concluding their participation the 13-week "Strengthening Families" program operated by the Division of Health, City of Trenton.

Juveniles participating in the program have been adjudicated by the Mercer County family court and have been placed in one of two residential community homes operated by the JJC in Mercer County. Residential community homes provide a less restrictive setting for appropriate youth. Juveniles who are placed in a residential group home participate in supervised activities in their communities including community services projects and programs such as this.

"These juveniles will only be successful if we give them the tools they need to succeed," said Howard L. Beyer, Executive Director, Juvenile Justice Commission. "The Strengthening Families Program brings together juveniles, their parents and community to help them build stronger relationships and to learn skills that will help them be successful members of their communities."

The program provides these young with resiliency skills that serve to strengthen family bonds, address the perils of drug use/abuse, improve parenting skills, provide aftercare services for the families that continue lower recidivism rates of youth returning home.

"The Strengthening Families program is about communication - and using it to come together inamature way to take a different approach to the future," said Mayor Douglas H. Palmer. "We recognize that everyone in life, at some point or another, has difficulties to overcome. What sets people apart is how they bounce back from these difficulties."

Approximately 1200 juveniles reside at JJC secure and residential facilities. Another 800 juveniles are supervised by JJC Juvenile Parole and Transitional Services staff. The juveniles who are participating in this program reside at Residential Community Homes which house juveniles who have committed lesser crimes or who are preparing to return home to their communities.

For more information on the JJC, please visit www.njjjc.com