Warren County JCPC recommends continued funding for Boys & Girls Club and 4‑H WAY, urges school outreach and risk/needs RFP

The Warren County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council recommended on Feb. 9 that funding continue for Positive Action and interpersonal‑skill programs run by the Boys & Girls Club and the 4‑H WAY program, even though both programs reported low new referral counts this month.

The recommendation came after the Monitoring Committee reviewed program outcomes and told members the programs show good success rates despite limited referrals. Marion Richards, Chair, opened the meeting at 12:02 p.m. and attendees reviewed written reports showing Boys & Girls Club enrollment remains steady at about 35 youths who attend regularly and that 4‑H WAY has a newly trained program assistant and a program coordinator scheduled to start Feb. 16.

Why it matters: Council members said reaching youth who are not entering juvenile court is a priority; Central Area Consultant Eddie Crews noted some youths are routed to adult court or other programs, reinforcing the case for prevention‑focused outreach and for adapting services to younger age bands.

Committee recommendations and next steps The Monitoring Committee suggested several steps to increase reach and effectiveness: boost parental engagement and awareness, expand programming options for middle and high‑school students, and extend mental‑health services aimed at boys and young men. Eddie Crews urged the JCPC to adapt the Risk/Needs Assessment service model to focus on identified needs for ages 6–17 and to issue an RFP; he also proposed adding a Contract Services line‑item amendment to the JCPC budget to fund such changes.

School and community coordination Dr. Carol Montague‑Davis recommended forming a task force to meet with school principals to generate programming ideas and referral pathways that emphasize prevention rather than reactive responses. Melissa Adjei‑Boakye, Juvenile Court Counselor Supervisor, asked about presenting JCPC programs to school social workers; members said the School Superintendent confirmed those meetings can be arranged.

Mental‑health referrals and partners Philip White of Transitional Therapeutic Services described how his organization provides mental‑health services in Warren County through Trillium by referral, with clinical intake coordinated by Trillium intake staff. Members discussed partnerships between service providers and after‑school programs such as Boys & Girls Club to streamline referrals.

Population served and program capacity Katherine Johnson of the Gladys Rogers Foundation told the council the foundation’s 16‑month program could serve disconnected youth; she noted roughly 15% of Warren County youth ages 16–24 are neither in school nor employed, and could be candidates for the foundation’s services. Program reports attached to the meeting record list budget and expense lines and note outreach efforts to strengthen referral partnerships with Mary Potter Middle and Northside Elementary.

Announcements and adjournment Trillium Health Resources’ Markeeta Littlejohn announced three upcoming re‑entry and mental‑health awareness events, and Norlina Police Chief Tony Marrow requested volunteers for a Reality of Money program on Feb. 18. The meeting adjourned at 1:05 p.m. on a motion by Kimberli Coley, seconded by Tony Perkins; the motion carried unanimously. The JCPC will meet next on Monday, March 9, 2026.

Sources: Warren County JCPC meeting, Feb. 9, 2026 (program reports and member remarks).