Yaboo, Rite of Passage Program

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).

'Yaboo, Rite of Passage' is a three-year demonstration project that will provide 300 high-risk Hartford youth with comprehensive training to prepare them to become healthy, productive, responsible adults. It will also provide education, training and support for up to 450 parents, caretakers, and family members of youth participants. Drawing upon the ancient African rite of passage tradition, the program will mobilize the arts and culture of the African Diaspora to ensure youth follow the right path, stay on the right course, and avoid harmful street activity. Specifically, the aims are to prevent violence and undo harmful markers that have come to be accepted as young people's rite of passage in urban America. NCA/NCF