This morning the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) announced that Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded $166,321 in grants to Jefferson, St. Clair, and Shelby Counties to prevent youth crime and recidivism.

“These youth need mentoring and educational programs to help guide them to a more productive future,” Gov. Ivey said in ADECA’s press release. “I commend the work of these organizations, and I am pleased to support them in their efforts to help young people find a path to success.”

According to the release the grants will go towards the following programs that provide counseling and mentoring to youth who are recommended through the juvenile justice system:

Ryan’s Hope Foundation

Ivey awarded Ryan’s Hope $50,000 for their 180 Project which provides case management, counseling, alternative therapies and mentoring to youth after detention according to the release.

“Ryan’s Hope Foundation is honored to receive this grant award on behalf of the youth and the partners that we serve,” said Yolanda Clayton, founder of the Birmingham nonprofit. “Our mission is to provide opportunities for [criminal] justice involved youth to see a better future for themselves and to change the trajectory of their current path by becoming thriving, successful member of their communities.”

Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office

Ivey awarded $16,321 to the district attorney’s office for the Helping Families Initiative which works in partnership with Tarrant City Schools to help at-risk youth remain in their homes, prevent further court involvement, and improve access to resources for participants and their families according to the release.

Representatives for Tarrant City Schools did not respond to requests for comment.

Vineyard Family Services of Central Alabama Inc.

According to their website this Pelham based nonprofit aims to “feed kids in need, promote responsible fatherhood, and help families in crisis.”

Ivey awarded Vineyard Family Services of Central Alabama Inc. $50,000 to assist 30 at-risk youth and their families who are referred to the program avoid recidivism, improve family relationships and help with case management and advocacy according to the release.

Representatives for Vineyard Family Services did not respond to requests for comment.

St. Clair County Day Program

Adolescents can be ordered to attend this day program in Ashville by a St. Clair County Juvenile Court Judge.

The program aims to “prevent juvenile crime in the County and to provide a positive, cost-effective alternative to incarceration” according to their website.

Ivey awarded the program $50,000 for the Reaching Every Family Utilizing Goals and Empowering (REFUGE) program that provides therapeutic services to at-risk youth and their families who are in out-of-home placement or in commitment to the Alabama Department of Youth Services.

Representatives for St. Clair County Day Program did not respond to requests for comment.

As the Lede previously reported, experts have attributed a large part Birmingham’s record-breaking year of homicides in 2022 to youth violence.

“The violent crime that we’re seeing across Birmingham and across our whole area is younger people settling differences in the heat of their anger,” said Bob Copus, executive director of Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama in a previous interview with the Lede. ”Oftentimes they pick up a gun.”

ADECA said in the release that they hope programs like those that received grants will help set at risk youth up for success and reduce possible ”bad choices.”

“ADECA joins Gov. Ivey in supporting the efforts of these organizations to help these young people turn from bad choices and become healthy, contributing members of society,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said in the release. “ADECA’s partnerships with these organizations will ensure those at-risk youths and their families have every opportunity to get on the path to a better future.”