The Morgan County Commission received $60,000 for its Truancy Intervention Program and Morgan County System of Services received $76,508 for its mentoring program. Both programs give positive adult guidance to help juveniles avoid lives filled with crime and violence.

“Wayward youth need strong adult guidance to get on the right path,” Bentley said. “The staff and volunteers conducting these programs are working hard to turn troubled youth into productive adults.”

The Truancy Intervention program is for parents of juveniles referred by the county’s Juvenile Court. It uses the Common Sense Parenting program, a 10-session, group-based parent training class that teaches parents how to be more involved in their children’s lives and provide more positive influences. Program officials said it helps parents bond with their children and learn to consistently supervise and discipline their children.

The county System of Services works with the Volunteer Center of Morgan County to implement its mentoring program, which assigns volunteer mentors from the community to help youth learn how to resolve problems nonviolently and avoid criminal activity. Program officials expect to aid 50 youths this year.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants from funds made available to the state by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Bentley notified Ray Long, County Commission chairman, and David Varner, Morgan County System of Services board chairman, that the grants had been approved.

Contact: Russell Sellers, Larry Childers