Home Grants will be used to fight gangs
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Grants will be used to fight gangs

Edited by Chris Graham
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The City of Staunton and the City of Waynesboro will receive over $27,000 to fund gang prevention efforts in the area. The Central Shenandoah Valley Office on Youth in partnership with the City of Staunton Police Department and City of Waynesboro Police Department are eligible for Justice Assistance Grant funding through the U.S. Department of Justice. 

Justice Assistance Grant funding allows local governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on their own local needs and conditions. These funds will be used to provide a highly structured after-school program for at-risk middle-school aged youth. This program is designed to provide a mentoring-type setting between staff and at-risk youth. The funds will also be used to employ a prevention assistant at the Office on Youth.  Funds are expected to be received by July.

This project supports the efforts of the SAW 2010 Prevention Coalition. This Coalition is a regional prevention effort comprised of school personnel, law enforcement, mental health professionals, human service workers, clergy, and interested citizens. The mission of the SAW Coalition is “to create and implement intentional strategies to prevent youth from involvement in criminal gang activity, drug use, violence, and other risky behaviors.” 

A formal grant proposal must be submitted to receive the funds. These grant proposals are available for public review and comment through June 28th. Copies are available at the Staunton City Building and Staunton Public Library, Waynesboro Yancey City Building, Waynesboro Public Library, and the Central Shenandoah Valley Office on Youth. They may also be viewed on line at the Office on Youth website at: http://www.officeonyouth.com.

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