The Stephenson County Board Court Services Committee, Chairwoman Casey Anthony put out a press release today announcing the availability of funds for programs that help at-risk youths. The grants are available to local nonprofit organizations who specifically target youth not already in the legal system. The goal of youth diversion funding is to provide activities/programming in our community that provide alternatives for youth that keep them engaged in positive activities.
The funding for this grant comes from a $5 youth diversion fee that is paid by persons convicted of criminal and/or traffic cases. No tax dollars are used. The current available finds for the program sit at a bit less than $8,000 and will be over $8,000 by the time the funds are disbursed. Spring 2020 recipients of the grant were the Stephenson County Fair Board and the Freeport School District Foundation.
Chairwoman Anthony spoke to us on the phone about the program to let us know there was $7,000 disbursed in the spring and the fall round currently has no applications received. She said the application deadline is 4PM sharp on October 1st, 2020. Anthony also stated that there’s been a rise of alcohol and drug abuse in the community but the support groups are all adult related with no programs specifically for youth. Relaying to our readers that there is a direct correlation between drug and alcohol abuse and prison.
Forms are to be submitted toStephenson County Court Services Committee C/O Georgia Newcomer – County Administrator 50 W Douglas St. Suite 1002 Freeport, Illinois 61032 Any questions can be directed to the Stephenson County Administrators office at 815-235-8277
A copy of the form can be obtained here: http://www.co.stephenson.il.us/board/YDFA-2019-02.pdf
Carl Utt is a newly minted citizen journalist and one of the founders of The Voice of Freeport and Progressive Vision Media LLC
