This Week's News: Youth in Transition

Education

AT&T Awards $700,000 in Grants to Help Address High School Dropout Crisis in Sacramento Area
The Wall Street Journal – October 7, 2008
AT&T is awarding more than $700,000 in AT&T Foundation grants to six Sacramento-area educational institutions to support high school retention programs for at-risk students. The grants are part of the company's signature initiative, AT&T Aspire, which was announced earlier this year to help address high school success and workforce readiness. AT&T has committed $100 million in philanthropy through 2011 to schools and nonprofit organizations that are focused on high school retention and better preparing students for college and the workforce.

New Dropout program slated
The Pueblo Chieftain – October 5, 2008
Pueblo Community College is teaming up with Pueblo City Schools to develop a program that will allow for high school dropouts to earn a diploma and gain college credit at the same time. Beginning next fall, PCC and the school district will implement the Gateway to College program which will provide students 16 to 21 who have dropped out of school the opportunity to return to classes.

Ceres High students learn a trade and collect college credits
The Modesto Bee – October 6, 2008
In groups of five and six, Ceres High School students recently huddled around work benches in leather jackets, long gloves and welding masks. Sparks flew, as students exclaimed "Cooooool" and "Whoa." The students were learning to start an arc -- the flame used to melt the metals while welding.

Juvenile Justice

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Announces More Than $293 Million in Grants
PR-Canada.net – October 5, 2008
Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey today announced more than $293 million in grant awards to help at-risk youth and improve juvenile justice systems nationwide. These grants, administered by OJP's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), support community efforts to prevent crime and protect public safety through focusing on the well-being of our nation's young people.

Minneapolis' 'blueprint' to attack youth violence is a success
Star Tribune – October 3, 2008
Gathering outside the city's new juvenile supervision center Friday, Mayor R.T. Rybak and a dozen community leaders presented a progress report on the comprehensive plan. Some of the successes they discussed were simpler to achieve, such as recruiting 25 city employees to serve as mentors for area youth, or expanding summer hours and programming at parks where crime is a problem.

Youth Shelters Save Millions in Tax Dollar Money
WCTV – October 3, 2008
Capital City Youth Services is not only helping to keep kids on the right path, but saving tax payers millions of dollars each year. The most recent Florida TaxWatch study shows that it costs approximately $7,300 for one youth to enter the Juvenile Justice System for 6 months and roughly only $1,600 if they entered a preventative agency.

Foster Care

Battling for children’s rights by teamwork
Financial News & Daily Record – September 30, 2008
For child advocates looking to make a difference in the lives of foster and at-risk children, a little teamwork can go a long way toward furthering the cause. Since 2001, one organization with local ties has provided that place for teamwork. Florida’s Children First, an independent statewide 501(c)3 nonprofit child advocacy group for foster and at-risk children was created by attorneys from across Florida. It acts as a “watchdog” over child welfare organizations that are in place to serve children.