Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Juvenile Diversion Grant topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
St. Joseph County approves application for juvenile diversion grant to fund 5 Star LIFT program
Summary
The board authorized county staff to apply for an Indiana Criminal Justice Institute juvenile diversion grant for July 2026–June 2028 to support the 5 Star LIFT program, a six-week leadership intervention for low-risk youth; the county will not provide a match, officials said.
The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 10 approved a request to apply for an Indiana Criminal Justice Institute juvenile diversion grant that would fund the 5 Star LIFT program for July 2026 through June 2028.
Stacy Pointer, chief probation officer at the Juvenile Justice Center, said the program serves low-risk youth referred for offenses such as runaway, ungovernable behavior and some low-level theft or domestic-battery-related charges. "The LIFT we would contract with the 5 Star Life program to provide the LIFT program," Pointer said, describing it as a six-week rotation of cohorts of about 10 youth and families that includes skill-building for parents and youth and a concluding summit on 5 Star Life’s campus in Union, Michigan.
Pointer told the board the county is not required to provide a matching contribution for the grant. Commissioners Hazen and Maxmeier voted to approve the application; the motion passed 2-0.
County officials said the grant would support efforts to reduce reoffending and encourage school attendance and positive decision-making among participating youth. The Juvenile Justice Center will provide additional program details and, if awarded, return with implementation plans and any contract approvals required.
