The community organizations and programs that empower youth (cope) project targets the crucial need to build protective factors among youth involved in the juvenile justice system in some of harris…

The Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) awarded a $1,000,000 Project Grant under the Juvenile Mentoring Program (CFDA 16.726) to Face To Face Enrichment Center, a minority-owned, woman-owned, Black American-owned nonprofit organization. The grant supports the Community Organizations and Programs that Empower Youth (COPE) project, which provides mentoring, family engagement activities, and mental health services to 80 youth per year, ages 10-17, who are involved in the juvenile justice system or at high risk for delinquency and victimization in Harris County, Texas, with a focus on the city of Houston. The project incorporates research and evidence-based practices to build protective factors and reduce delinquency among the target population. Face To Face Enrichment Center has partnered with Louisiana Empowerment Services to deliver mental health services as part of the project. The grant term is from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2026.

The community organizations and programs that empower youth (cope) project targets the crucial need to build protective factors among youth involved in the juvenile justice system in some of harris county, texas most unsafe communities in houston. A combination of individual, relationship, community, and societal factors contribute to the risk of youth violence. The project will systematically incorporate research and evidence-based practices into the design. This in turn will complement and strengthen mentoring services through targeted family-engaging activities that will result in increased in-person staff contact, targeted referrals, training for families, and the end outcome of building protective factors for youth. Applying under category 1: mentoring organizations (1 state), the cope project targets the crucial need to build protective factors among youth, ages 10-17, involved in the justice system, as well as those at high risk for delinquency and victimization throughout harris county with a focus on the city of houston. Face to face enrichment centers mentoring program has been operational for 16 years. The cope project is supported by louisiana empowerment services to provide mental health services for youth who can benefit from treatment. Louisiana empowerment services has facilities in multiple states, which include louisiana, texas, and north carolina. A minimum of 80 youth will be served each year through this effort.