Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Juvenile Justice topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Spalding County accepts $130,000 juvenile-justice grant to fund cognitive-behavioral intervention
Summary
The board accepted a $130,000 Juvenile Justice Incentive Grant from the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council to fund a Thinking for a Change cognitive-behavioral program for at-risk youth, serving up to about 100 youth during the grant period; no county match is required.
Spalding County accepted a $130,000 Juvenile Justice Incentive Grant on July 21 to fund a Thinking for a Change cognitive-behavioral program for at-risk youth ages 11–17, county staff told the Board of Commissioners.
Why it matters: The program is an evidence-based, cognitive-behavioral intervention aimed at reducing recidivism among medium-to-high risk youth. County staff said the program will be provided at no county match and aims to serve roughly 100 youth over the grant period at an estimated $2,500 per participant, with target non-recidivism and completion metrics noted in the grant.
Details and next steps: The grant requires quarterly progress reports and completion of the program by June 30, 2026. County staff reported that last year 36 youth were committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice, 50 instances of secure detention occurred and 68 adjudicated offenses were processed through juvenile court. The program is being coordinated with the Griffin-Spalding County School District and local mentoring providers. Commissioners voted to accept the grant; the motion passed 4-0.
Ending: Judge Ashman and local program facilitators expressed support; staff will implement programming and report quarterly outcomes to the board.
