The University of Louisiana at Monroe has been awarded a $385,000 aimed at improving the Fourth Judicial District's handling of teen substance abuse.

According to a July 20 article by Stephen Largen of NewsStar.com, the two-year grant will be used for the following purposes:

• Providing and improving family counseling, group therapy, substance abuse treatment and drug screening for the juvenile drug court.
• Providing drug screening and needs assessment at the point of intake into the 4th District juvenile justice system.
• Creating a partnership with the Children's Coalition on a parenting program for parents of children involved in the juvenile justice system.
• Working with the Youth Services Planning Board to create a master plan for youth services in the 4th District.

"We spent an awful lot of money in years past on programs that just didn't produce outcomes  they just didn't work," Lynda Gavioli, executive director of the Children's Coalition for Northeast Louisiana told NewsStar.com. "The grant will help to align and coordinate the services."

Labels: prevention, drug_abuse

Posted By: Aspen/CRC