Washington, D.C. – Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton announced that she is supporting the application filed by the City of Buffalo Youth Services Division to the Department of Justice Gang Prevention Coordination Assistance Program which would grant funding to support and enhance the coordination of existing community-based gang prevention and intervention programs. In a letter to J. Robert Flores, Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency and Prevention, Senator Clinton stressed that the funding would be essential in aiding the city of Buffalo in their partnership with Community Action Organization in supporting the “Pathways Partnership for Gang Prevention” program which will help identify youth at risk for gang membership.
“Every child deserves to have the opportunity to live up to their full potential, but all too often children in underserved communities must struggle with negative influences that can put them in harm’s way and lead to a path of self-destruction,”
"The Pathways Partnership for Gang Prevention is an excellent tool in community-based gang prevention and intervention,"
The goal of the Pathways program is to identify youth at risk for gang membership between the ages of 11 and 18 that reside in three high risk zip code areas: 14211, 14214, and 14215. If funding is secured, the Pathways program would also be able to extend their community center hours, implement intervention and preventions strategies, and add additional staff to include two part time social workers, two part time activities directors, and a coordinator.
A copy of the letter to Administrator Flores is attached -
Mr. J. Robert Flores
Administrator
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency and Prevention
810 Seventh Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20531
Dear Mr. Flores:
I write in support of the application by the City of Buffalo Youth Services Division to the Department of Justice Gang Prevention Coordination Assistance Program. Funds will be used to support and enhance the coordination of existing community-based gang prevention and intervention programs.
In partnership with the City of Buffalo, the mission of the Community Action Organization is to provide services and programs that support the financial and emotional well-being of the community. They have devised the “Pathways Partnership for Gang Prevention” to build on Buffalo’s pre-existing anti-gang strategies. Pathways will be used to help identify youth at risk for gang membership between the ages of 11 and 18 that reside in three high risk zip code areas: 14211, 14214, and 14215. The Pathways program plans to implement an extension of community center hours from 9PM to 1AM, offering a safe environment for 50-100 students in the community during peak hours of juvenile crime activity. The program will also implement intervention and preventions strategies that will provide an opportunity for supervision, assessment, and development of individualized redirection plans. On staff at Pathways will be two part time social workers, two part time activities directors, and a coordinator, thus making it much more than just an evening recreational program. These case management workers will be able to use available human services such as the Buffalo/Erie County Juvenile Crime Enforcement Coalition and other community partners.
I ask that you please give this application your full consideration. If you have any questions, or desire further information, please do not hesitate to contact my office.
Sincerely yours,
Hillary Rodham Clinton
