Members of the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) of Cabarrus County expressed to legislators and members of the community how important funding for their programs is and that some programs are at risk of being cut because of stimulus funds expiring this year.
The group held its third annual legislative breakfast at the Governmental Center on Friday, where various speakers shared what their JCPC-funded programs do and how they have helped youth in this community.
The groups that presented about their programs were the Boys & Girls Club of Cabarrus County, Home Based Services, Monarch, Monarch Gang Re-Entry, Project Challenge, Strengthening Families and Teen Court.
JCPC funds its programs each year with its anticipated budget of about $326,000, said Carolyn Carpenter, chairperson of JCPC, but it has also supported programs with federal stimulus funds, which expire at the end of June.
“We had at least three of our programs funded with grant money running out in June of this year,” Carpenter said. “We’ve got to find additional dollars or those will stop.”
One of those is a gang prevention program through the Boys & Girls Club, which is expected to reach 100 local youth, said Valerie Melton, executive director for the club.
Angela Colombero’s son is one of the youth the club has helped with its programs and services.
Colombero spoke at the breakfast and called the Boys & Girls Club her “savior as a single parent.” She said it was a place for her son to get his homework done and have fun.
“I can’t say enough about what this club has done for me as a parent and for him,” Colombero said. “I don’t know what would’ve happened if he would’ve stayed at home.”
Rich Smith, JCPC consultant, said the gang prevention program at the Boys & Girls Club, and the other programs funded by that federal stimulus money, will cease operation unless things change in the next fiscal year.
“We’re going to lose valuable resources we have historically not been able to fund,” Smith said. “Those are real concerns for me. … While the state’s role is to provide resources and technical support, the solutions are in the community. We have effective programs that are allowing children to stay in Cabarrus County. I hope we can be more fully funded to continue that full continuum of services.”
Teresa Price, head of community programs for the state’s Division of Juvenile Justice, also spoke of the array of services the local JCPC offers.
“You’re doing a great job of keeping these kids out of youth development centers,” Price said to the members of JCPC.
She told those at the legislative breakfast that it costs the state $124,000 to send a juvenile to youth development centers, while the average cost of JCPC programs is $750.
“Thank you for your support of these programs because you’re saving the state money,” Price said. “That’s good use of taxpayer money.”
Price said that, even though funding for JCPC has not increased, the local group has been high functioning.
That statement and the success stories from the programs were things that N.C. Rep. Fred Steen said resonated with him.
“It sounds like they’re doing a great job,” Steen said. “The funding has gone down, but the results are still improving…It’s a place we need to focus.”
When asked about how funding looks, N.C. Rep. Linda Johnson said it is too early to tell.
“We won’t know until May,” Johnson said. “We are in better shape, but until we get the final numbers, we don’t know how we can use any of our funds.”
She added that she was happy to hear how well the JCPC has used its funding and that the local recidivism rate was lower than the national one.
“Our county is doing something right, and I am so proud,” Johnson said.
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