Moore County’s Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) met Aug. 4 and voted to use the remaining $64,988 in general funds for research and expanding the Boys and Girls Club of the Sandhills. This vote is contingent on the northern Moore representatives reporting to JCPC’s Risk and Needs subcommittee.
“We are pleased and excited about that,” Vice Chair Renee Brooks said.
“We were awarded funds to continue our interpersonal skill-building programming for any youth referred primarily from Juvenile Court Counselors,” said CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of the Sandhills Fallon Brewington. “JCPC asked for us to ensure services were available for any youth and to research ways to provide services to youth who are not in close proximity of our existing Club facilities, with emphasis on Northern Moore. We will report our efforts on serving referrals from Northern Moore.”
Twenty-five participants attended the virtual meeting, and each district was represented.
With COVID-19 restrictions, it was reported that youth were still being served through JCPC, following proper safety guidelines.
“We met in homes, individually, and took household items and restaurant donated hams to each household,” Joyce Clevenger said, “We also had book and clothing drives.”
JCPC reported a 20% recidivism rate, and there were no new charges brought to teen court.
In the working program, during June, they had 29 hours of work and 75 hours in July. Youth served neighbors in need doing “things their parents were comfortable with them doing.”
Life Skills training was reported as “ready to go” but it was not clear how to present classes under COVID-19 restrictions because not all homes have access to internet with audio and video capabilities.
David Wall reported that offices were open for business and that they had had a virtual presentation for court council to let them know what resources are available.
North Carolina House Bill 593 was discussed. Its changes will take place Dec. 1, 2020 and will allow JCPC to work with youth at higher risk and not just a certain group, among other changes.
Written by Sandhills Sentinel Journalism Intern Stephanie M. Sellers.
Photo by Sandhills Sentinel Photographer John Patota.
