By Dan Nonte, University Relations
The Guilford County Disproportionate Minority Contact Committee will award three $10,000 mini-grants to reduce the number of African American youths in the juvenile justice system.
The committee’s management team is housed at UNCG's Center for Youth, Family, and Community Partnerships.
The grants, which will expire June 30, will support organizations that work collaboratively with youths, parents and other agencies to reduce suspensions and arrests while supporting parents and caregivers.
Those who wish to apply for a grant must attend an informational meeting at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 26 at the Guilford Education Alliance, 905 Bonner Road, Jamestown.
The 69-member DMC Committee has spent the past year analyzing data provided by Guilford County Schools, Greensboro and High Point police departments, the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office, and the juvenile justice system. It also has held focus groups to hear from youths, parents, court counselors and others.
That analysis identified four gaps in services in Guilford County:
1. Aftercare – support for youths after suspension or incarceration
2. Mentoring – one-on-one mentoring for at least two hours each week
3. Mediation – school-based conflict resolution/peer mediation
4. Parenting Support – guidance from parent/youth advocates
The DMC Committee itself is supported by a two-year grant from the Governor’s Crime Commission. The crime commission awarded grants to demonstration sites in Guilford, Forsyth, Union and New Hanover counties.
Each county is researching the overrepresentation of minority youths in its juvenile justice system and devising a plan to address the issue. The Guilford County project is in its second year and is implementing specific activities.
