Congresswoman Doris Matsui Announces $500,000 for Sacramento County Schools Youth Mentoring, Gang Prevention Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 22, 2009

CONTACT: Mara Lee

(202) 225-7163

CA - Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-05) announced $500,000 has been awarded to the Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD) for youth mentoring programs through a U.S. Justice Department competitive federal grant. Through the Department's Office of Justice Programs, SCUSD will receive the federal funding in order to initiate its Lifeline Mentoring program for gang prevention activities that aims to reduce delinquency amongst at-risk youth in our community.

The program takes a comprehensive approach designed to develop and strengthen protective factors against gang involvement. It includes a series of small group mentoring activities, supportive case management services, a summer career academy, and summer youth employment. The district's Lifeline Mentoring program will serve over one hundred local 9th-11th grade students over a three year period. Student enrollment in the program will be based on behaviors, such as bullying, attendance problems, classroom disruptions, substance use, and academic underperformance, which indicate a high-risk for delinquency.

"Focusing on gang-prevention activities is an important component of achieving our goals of making our community safer, and investing in the lives and futures of Sacramento's youth," expressed Representative Matsui. "I applaud the Sacramento City Unified School District for working with the Justice Department and taking a proactive approach in working with the kids who are at the greatest danger of turning to delinquency, violence, and gang activities."