Thomas MacMillan Photo
Twice as many young New Haveners will have access to employment training and “work-learn” internships, thanks to a boost of cash from the state.
The state has agreed to send $750,000 in all to support programs to prevent youth violence.
Among the beneficiaries of the grant is the New Haven Family Alliance, which will be able to double its “Project Success” program, according to Barbara Tinney (pictured), head of the organization. The program trains teens and places them in stipended internships. Hers is just one of several youth services agencies that will receive money from the grant.
Tinney was among a group of city and state officials who announced the grant at a Wednesday press conference in City Hall.
The money comes from the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch and is being used for youth programming that is “aligned with the Centers For Disease Control’s (CDC) recommendations for preventing violence among at-risk youth,” according to a release. That means things like mediation, mentoring and job training.
The city is distributing the $750,000 to local organizations through a competitive grant process. Grants ranging from about $10,000 to $50,000 have been given to organizations including New Haven Family Alliance, Elephant In The Room boxing gym, Higher Heights, Solar Youth, LEAP, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Community Mediation.
Mayor John DeStefano hailed the city’s delegation in Hartford — including state Sen. Toni Harp — for helping to secure the grant.
Harp, who’s running for mayor, hailed the Board of Aldermen for its leadership. Working with city youth is a central part of the board’s legislative agenda, as agreed upon in 2012.
“Youth violence and hopelessness have risen to crisis levels,” said Yale Alderwoman Sarah Eidelson, chair of the board’s Youth Services Committee.
Tinney said the state money will allow New Haven Family Alliance to have about 40 teens in its Project Success program this year, instead of the 20 it would otherwise have.
The 44-week is designed for young people between 15 and 20 years old who have had some sort of contact with law enforcement, Tinney said. The first phase focuses on life- and employment-skills development. Teens meet with staff four times a wee for two hours at a time. The program also includes a 12-week “work-learn” placement, for which teens receive a stipend. The teens have to be in good standing academically, or demonstrating effort to get there.
At the close of the press conference, Mayor DeStefano noted that most of New Haven’s violence is not directly youth-related, but is more closely linked to the prison-reentry population. It’s still necessary to pay attention to young people, he said. “We often put people on paths in their younger years.”