Fattah Announces $1.2 Million in DOJ Grants that Support Philadelphia Youth

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Congressman Chaka Fattah (PA-02) announced today that Philadelphia has received two grants from the Department of Justice (DOJ), totaling more than $1.2 million in funds that will go towards supporting programs and services that benefit the city's youth.  The Philadelphia Children's Alliance (PCA) and the City of Philadelphia's Youth Violence Prevention Collaborative (PYVPC) are recipients of the DOJ funding issued by its Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). Fattah is the senior Democrat on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and related agencies that oversees funding for the Department of Justice.

The Philadelphia Children's Alliance will receive $1,059,910 from OJJDP to bolster Children's Advocacy Centers and Multidisciplinary Abuse Teams in nine states throughout the Northeast. The funding will support both training and technical assistance programs aimed at strengthening state networks and developing new programs that serve young victims of sexual abuse. PCA is a national best practices model for its peer agencies across the country.

"The grants announced today will go towards creating better, brighter outcomes and opportunities for children in Philadelphia," said Congressman Fattah. "PCA is a national leader in serving child sexual abuse victims through a multi-disciplinary approach focusing on healing and justice. This grant will help strengthen their capacity to service our children at home, while sharing their recognized techniques and approaches with partner agencies across the region that are united in their critical mission."

In addition, the DOJ has awarded $235,073 to the City of Philadelphia, as part of the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention. Philadelphia is a member of the 10-city network nationwide that implements strategies and evidenced-based programs to reduce youth violence. This grant will support technical assistance for Positive Behavioral Intervention Supports (PBIS) in two schools with high suspension and violent incident rates: Tanner Duckrey and Richard R. Wright elementary schools.

"This grant supports the continued and expanded implementation of a successful strategy of reducing violence in our Philadelphia public schools.  Anything we can do that prevents disciplinary actions and suspensions, and most importantly, keeps students in the classroom is a win," Congressman Fattah said. "I am happy this funding will allow the School District to grow this program into two additional high need schools."

SOURCE Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah