WESTMINSTER, Md., July 10, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Together We Own It was awarded a grant totaling over $60,000 from the Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention (GOCCP).
The grant awarded was the Title II Formula (JJAC) Grant. The Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention funded this project under subaward number JSMR-2020-0006. All points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position of any State or Federal agency.
The JJAC program encourages the use of developmentally appropriate and trauma-informed framework to inform and connect youth justice work to the development of individual and multi- agency comprehensive state plans that support the well-being of all youth.
The purpose of JJAC is to improve outcomes for children and youth within the juvenile justice system by increasing and strengthening programs in the areas of aftercare and reentry, alternatives to detention, diversion, and probation which correlates with GOCCP's objective of reducing victimization and delinquent behavior in Maryland's children.
Grant funds will benefit Rise Up Community Center, a program developed in partnership between Together We Own It and inPOWER Inc., two nonprofit organizations serving Carroll County residents. Rise Up Community Center (RUCC) helps reduce existing gaps in services and fosters collaboration and cooperation among partner agencies and stakeholders in Carroll County, Maryland. RUCC is a youth-driven program providing space for youth to discover their strengths and abilities and to explore opportunities for success through community engagement, restorative practices and positive youth development. RUCC serves youth 12-18 years old.
Rise Up Community Center addresses a need for prevention and intervention for youth engaging in risky behaviors or criminal activity, first time nonviolent youthful offenders, as well as reentry support for youth released from juvenile incarceration, group homes, and residential treatment.
"This support will allow us to maintain the momentum we've gathered over the first year of providing juvenile diversion and evening reporting through Rise Up Community Center" said Katie Kirby, Together We Own It Executive Director. "By empowering and educating youth in the areas of empathy and accountability, we can manage first time and low-level offenders within our community. Through wrap-around services for the whole family and a support system for children and youth, families have an opportunity to thrive."
In our first year of programming, Rise Up Community Center has:
- served 28 youth
- provided over 2,800 meals for youth and families
- awarded over 1,160 community service hours to youth who participated in programming
- hosted 34 interns and volunteers who were positive role models and mentors
SOURCE Together We Own It

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