CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Gov. Jim Justice announced recently that the state has awarded $308,000.00 in Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (JJDP) Title II grant funds to seven projects across West Virginia. These funds are awarded to public and private non-profit agencies throughout the state for the purpose of preventing juvenile delinquency, reducing racial and ethnic disparities, rehabilitating juvenile offenders, and improving the juvenile justice system in West Virginia.

“A lot of times, kids who end up in tough situations face a lot of challenges at a young age that most never have to worry about,” Justice said. “We need to try with everything in us to help make sure these kids are on the right path sooner rather than later because, at the end of the day, our children are our future, and we want that future to be as bright as possible. So I’m tickled to death that we’re able to provide funding to assist in the important mission of these programs that are so crucial for our youth.”

These funds are provided by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and are administered by the Justice and Community Services Section of the West Virginia Division of Administrative Services.

Funds were awarded to the following:

STATEWIDE
Public Defender Services
$40,000.00
These funds will be used to launch the Juvenile Law Boot Camp and Alternatives Program to train juvenile defenders in the biological, psychological, and socio-environmental aspects of the youth they represent.

BERKELEY, JEFFERSON & MORGAN COUNTIES
CASA of the Eastern Panhandle
$59,000.00
These funds will be used to launch the Fostering Futures/I-AM Mentor initiative to serve youth who were victims of abuse or neglect in Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan Counties.

CABELL COUNTY
Marshall University Research Corporation
$50,000.00
These funds will be used to Implement the Peers Making Peace program in five community centers in Cabell County to provide community outreach, evidence-based delinquency prevention programming, and positive youth development services to at-risk youth.

KANAWHA COUNTY
Partnership of African American Churches
$70,000.00
These funds will be used to decrease Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Kanawha County by expanding current initiatives between law enforcement, public defenders, prosecuting attorneys, clergy, youth, and families.

OHIO COUNTY
Libera Inc.
$24,000.00
These funds will be used to provide Libera Model Teen Girl Groups at the Ronald C. Mulholland Juvenile Detention Center and Crittenton Services residential foster home in Wheeling.

PUTNAM COUNTY
TEAM for WV Children
$30,000.00
These funds will be used to provide follow-up contact and referrals after permanency for child victims in child abuse/neglect civil court cases.

WOOD, WIRT, RITCHIE & PLEASANTS COUNTIES
Voices for Children
$35,000.00
These funds will be used to advocate for the best interest of children who have been removed from their home due to abuse, neglect, and maltreatment and provide direct services to children to ensure all their needs are being met.