Palmetto Youth Connection

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 Palmetto Youth Connection (PYC) established in Columbia, South Carolina to provide females ages 12-18 with positive alternatives to at-risk behaviors, while at the same time promoting increased educational attainment, leadership development, character education and community involvement. Palmetto Youth Connection provides services in census tracts 9, 10 and 13 within the City of Columbia, South Carolina and Richland County. Communities which are contiguous to these census tracts are also served. PYC targets the unique needs of females 12- 18 who are identified as dependent, truant, runaway, ungovernable, delinquent or in need of academic skills. The project goal is to motivate and develop leadership qualities and the quest for achievement and community services in girls and young women who may be at risk, but who have demonstrated that want to be productive citizens. Through the utilization of academic enhancement programs, individual attention, gender specific life management curriculum, therapeutic support services and follow up services, each participant at PYC will be required to establish academic goals which are focused on earning a minimum of a high school diploma, obtaining vocational education or entering the workforce. In addition, each participant is required to either participate in or conduct community service projects. Upon completion of the program, PYC staff will continue to monitor the progress of each participant with follow- up case management if necessary. Data will be collected to measure the academic achievement rates and specific program outcomes. NCA/NCF