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Groups apply for anti-gang money
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Published: December 10, 2008
The wish list is an expensive one, but a group of local organizations hope to make a difference to a large number of kids.
The Iredell County Gang Task Force is in the final stages of preparing a grant for a share of $10 million in funds aimed at addressing the growing gang problem.
The grant money will be handed down next year by the Governor's Crime Commission and will be disbursed across the state.
At the top end of the scale, the grant request is in the neighborhood of $800,000, and the minimum is close to $500,000.
Capt. Dan Miglin of the Statesville Police Department hopes the group effort, involving faith-based organizations, Statesville Police department, Statesville Housing Authority and others, will be the spark the grant will need to get the most money.
Miglin said he doesn't believe the entire $800,000 will be funded. "We stand a really, really good chance of getting some of it, but not all of it," he said.
The grant would provide money to hire two officers dedicated to collecting activity on gangs, a community resource liaison and money for overtime and graffiti cleanup; continuation and expansion of current programs through the Boys & Girls Club of the Piedmont, Piedmont Mediation, the Lowe's YMCA, Teen Health, Appropriate Placement Options, Barium Springs, Mi Familia, SCAN and Ordered Steps.
The police department plans on initiating another program — with or without grant funding.
The High Point Initiative, based on a program by the High Point Police Department, is going to be implemented, Miglin said.
"Interim Chief (Tom) Anderson and I are committed to this program," he said.
Miglin explained that the High Point Initiative targets youths in the early stages of their criminal careers by bringing a total community approach. Family members, the community and service providers meet with the suspects individually and let them know where they are headed and how their actions affect others.
"We basically offer them a second chance," Miglin said. "This is where the community steps in, and says get a job and stay out of trouble, get them a GED, offer them an alternative to the criminal lifestyle," he said.
Anthony Turman, a Statesville native who works as a community relations specialist with the Trident Police Department, a private police agency, said the gang issue is not a new one.
"It has been here a long, long time," he said. "It was a taboo issue until now."
He said he sees children as young as 5 being recruited for gang membership in some areas.
Turman said an effort such as the High Point Initiative and some of the programs specified in the grant proposal are a step in the right direction.
"I applaud what you're doing," he said. "It's great that you're starting to ask questions."
Pam Navey, executive director of Appropriate Placement Options, said a total of 34 partners are involved in this grant proposal. That collaboration should impress those making the funding decisions, as well as with providing the services to address the issue, she said.
"We can leverage so much more service as a collaborative effort than as individuals," she explained. "There are already service providers. We're just looking to enhance the services."
Miglin said the grant application is due by the end of January and funding decisions should be granted by early summer.
Each partner will be required to provide 12½ percent matching monies through in-kind contributions or funding.
Miglin and Navey said some of the plans will be addressed regardless of the decision on the state level.
"We're committed to addressing this issue before it becomes a bigger problem," Miglin said.
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