"Youth at Risk" to "Youth With Hope".

The OJJDP FY 09 Earmarks Programs further the Department's mission by providing grants, cooperative agreements, and other assistance authorized by the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, as amended, to organizations identified in the Explanatory Statement Regarding H.R. 1105 (Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009), 155 Cong. Rec. H1653 (daily ed. Feb. 23, 2009) (statement by Rep. Obey, Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations of the House).

The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Pee Dee Area will serve youth, ages 6-17, living in Florence, Chesterfield, Darlington and Williamsburg Counties of South Carolina. The majority of youth served will have multiple risk factors including, but not limited to, low economic standing, single parent household, attending low-achieving schools, parents' with limited academic achievement and living in neighborhoods with increased levels of crime, especially gang activity. To combat these risk factors the project will target increased academic success, improved character & leadership development, and increased healthy lifestyles. Activities will include: character & leadership development activities, academic enrichment programs, gang prevention, health & life skills, technology skills building, career exploration & career planning, job readiness skills, and cultural diversity awareness and training. These activities will be offered in safe and nurturing environments, in combination with the mentoring of caring staff and volunteers. Youth participation, skills learned and attributes acquired will be tracked in combination with data from participants' parents and teachers to insure measurable gains of participants. NCA/NCF