The City of Duarte has been awarded a $325,171 competitive state grant under the California Gang Reduction, Intervention and Prevention (CalGRIP) Program to sustain its gang prevention, intervention, and expand reintegration programs for 2015. The grant will be up for annual renewal for the next two years (through 2017), pending state restitution funds sourced from the State Budget Act, for a total of $975, 513 for three years. Out of 45 applicants, Duarte’s evidence-based anti-gang project was one of 19 awardees.
A portion of the grant will provide the Duarte Prevention, Intervention, Reintegration Project with the funds necessary to maintain the services of Los Angeles County Probation and the Sheriff’s departments despite recent budget cuts which threatened programs.
Grant funds will also support the Duarte Public Safety and Teen Center youth outreach programs, including the Duarte Boxing Gym, and expansion of Duarte Dance and Arts programming serving the Duarte Teen Center, Pamela Park, and Mt. Olive School. Four main partner organizations are included in the grant: the Flintridge Center, the Boys and Girls Club of the Foothills, the Santa Anita Family YMCA and Southland Sings. These non-profit organizations support families with after-school care, positive summer programming, and evidence-based programming proven to assist in prevention, intervention, and reintegration efforts by providing juveniles and young adults with positive alternatives. The grant funds will enable the Boys and Girls Club and YMCA to expand their services and provide additional positive pro-social activities to families in need. Southland Sings will deliver art-therapy based programs to help in early prevention, primary and secondary intervention. The Flintridge Center will expand reintegration services in the surrounding communities of Duarte, Monrovia and unincorporated areas.
The focus of the Duarte Prevention, Intervention and Reintegration Project is to reduce gang membership, gang related crime and juvenile arrests by working closely with at-risk youth, parents and teachers. The goal is to ultimately achieve a 25% overall reduction in the aforementioned areas during the life of the grant.
Duarte’s Probation Officers focus on early prevention and intervention. They coordinate services with parents, schools, courts, law enforcement, and community partners. They act as role models, mentors, and advocates for students, and assist to equip families with the skills and services they need to be successful.
