Governor’s Community Service and Civic Engagement Program

On June 9, 2006, the Governor's Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (GOSAP) and the Department of Criminal Justice Services announced the availability of mini-grants under the Governor’s Youth Community Service and Civic Engagement Program. This program supports community-based initiatives that provide youth who are at risk for gang involvement with opportunities to perform meaningful service to their communities. Funded projects use a positive youth development approach to prevention that emphasizes youth as resources and contributors to their community rather than as problems and as only recipients of services youth as resources to their communities. Community service provides a programmatic vehicle for providing youth with opportunities to develop competence, confidence, connections, character, and caring – the 5 C’s for positive development.

Eligible applicants were local units of government; however, other public and community-based organizations, including faith-based organizations, and private non-profit entities, could conduct projects under contract with a local unit of government. Localities submitted applications for funding that were reviewed by members of Virginia ’s Interagency Anti-Gang Workgroup. Grants will be administered by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. Grants are supported by federal Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance and Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act funds.

Mini-grants were awarded for a one-year period, with a possible renewal for a second and third year. Grants were awarded on a competitive basis. The grant period for the first year is from December 1, 2006 through December 31, 2007. A 16.67 % non-federal cash match was required.

Twenty-four (24) Virginia localities are being awarded funding to implement projects that engage youth at risk of gang involvement in meaningful community service. Funded projects use a variety of creative approaches reflecting broad community support and exemplifying effective collaboration.

Awardees of the Governor’s Community Service and Civic Engagement Program - 2006-2007:

Localities Served	Project Description
Augusta County and Cities of Staunton and Waynesboro	The the Shenandoah Valley Office on Youth will coordinate three youth community service projects for youth between 14 and 16.
Counties of Brunswick, Greensville, Sussex and Surry and the City of Emporia	These 5 localities have taken a regional approach to gang prevention and will add community service to their existing Promoting Outstanding Work Ethics and Responsibility (P.O.W.E.R.) program that helps youth become successful academically and in the world of work.
Buckingham County	Volunteer Opportunities in Community Experience 2 will provide high school youth with opportunities for community service emphasizing positive youth development.
City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County	TeensGIVE is an award-winning service learning program, that shows youth opportunities that they can make a difference in their communities.
Dinwiddie County	The Youth Connections Program will target youth who have been expelled from school to complete meaningful community service earning them consideration for early re-enrollment in school through successful completion of the program.
City of Harrisonburg	The City will collaborate with the 26th District Juvenile Court, the James Madison University Center for Service Learning, Young Life and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County to facilitate Youth Works mentoring and service experiences each Saturday for 150 gang-vulnerable middle and high school youth.
Isle of Wight County	The Office on Youth will offer alternative activities to gang membership and activity, and develop leadership skills through activities and recognition.
Loudoun County	30 at-risk youth ages 13-17 will be involved in a service-learning summer camp where they will participate in multiple community service projects throughout the County.
Mathews County	Through the Boys and Girls Torch Club, youth will be engaged in conducting community service.
City of Manassas Park	The Department of Parks and Recreation will implement the Leaders in Training (L.I.T.) program, which creates a positive place for youth and builds valuable life and job skills.
City of Newport News	The City, in partnership with Alternatives, Inc. and the Boys and Girls Club of the Virginia Peninsula, will engage 30 youth in a service learning pilot project, Kids Involved in Community Kindness (KICK).
City of Norfolk	The Redevelopment and Housing Authority will implement Prepare Until Success Happens (PUSH), a volunteer community service program that will help youth develop a support network and skills to become successful.
City of Petersburg	Project Polish will provide an after school club for middle school youth where their belief in their value to their community will be fostered through educational activities and community service.
City of Roanoke	Juvenile Justice Services will operate a Service Learning Academy using a positive youth development approach to empower at-risk male and female youth ages 12-17.
City of Suffolk	The Community Service Initiative will employ the five Cs of positive youth development - competence, confidence, connections, character, and caring - by empowering youth to plan, develop, and implement a variety of community service projects.
Wythe County	The Gang Prevention Task Force will oversee Youth and Community in Service Together, a program involving multiple proven gang prevention strategies including public education, parenting education, drug prevention, recreation, positive peer models and positive adult mentoring, and public service designed to inculcate competence, confidence, connections, character, and caring.