City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: OCTOBER 17, 2023
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
FROM: MIKE MACKEY, COURT SERVICE UNIT
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Grant Application to the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice Services Youth Violence & Substance Use Prevention Mentoring Program.
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ISSUE: Consideration of a grant application to pilot a new, evidence-based mentoring program "Building Your Power" for middle school students who need extra support in addressing truancy and/or behavioral health issues.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Approve an application for up to $160,000 in grant funding, with no City match, from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services; and
(2) Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents that may be required.
BACKGROUND: The City of Alexandria has been invited to apply to the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services 2024 Virginia Youth Violence & Substance Use Prevention and Intervention Grant Program. The grant announcement was received on September 26, 2023 and the application is due on October 30, 2023 at 5 p.m. The grant award period for this project is January 1, 2024 through December 2025.
With an emphasis on mentoring boys, a current service gap among Alexandria Mentoring Partnership programs, this program will provide truancy prevention services, student engagement and student conduct supports, school advocacy, case management, family engagement, and connection to community resources. The overarching goals of Building Your Power are to: decrease risk factors and increase protective factors; provide non-parent adult support through one-on-one mentoring; prevent youth violence, gang involvement, substance use, and juvenile court involvement; and to increase high school graduation rates.
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