The Trenton Times published the following article on May 8, 2013. To read the full article, click here.

Editorial: Revive Trenton Youthstat program to help at-risk city youth

By Times of Trenton Editorial Board 
on May 08, 2013 at 5:56 AM

Sometimes it seems those in charge of Trenton are deliberately trying to sabotage the chances of the city and its residents for success.

Allowing the early intervention program aimed at helping children steer clear of gangs and violence to sputter out is another case in point.

Known as Youthstat, the federally financed initiative is itself in need of guidancefollowing the resignation of its coordinator. Lois Krause, who persevered for six months without a salary, told Times staffer Erin Duffy that the program offers “no magic. Youthstat is not going to solve everything. But we started chipping away to try and put a solid plan in place and monitor it.”

The umbrella organization assembled representatives of the schools, churches, nonprofits, the state Division of Youth and Family Services, child welfare organizations, and the city’s police department. They tracked the progress of at-risk city youth as young as 9 or 10, juvenile offenders who could move on to more serious offenses, and tried to turn their lives around.

Offering structure to children without enough guidance, Youthstat team members also made a point of visiting the homes of program participants to involve parents and guardians.

As Duffy reported this week, the program has languished since March 2012, when Krause’s contract ran out. City officials had no explanation why Krause, the only Youthstat staff member, wasn’t paid for half a year. Business administrator Sam Hutchinson said the grant-funded program needed better management.

Add it to the list.

While many of those programs have flamed out for lack of funding, Youthstat is subsidized by the U.S. Department of Justice. In July 2009, the city received $905,000 from the Department of Justice for one grant, and $310,000 later in December, Duffy reported. The DOJ gave $460,589 for Youthstat programming in 2008.

Krause estimates at least $800,000 of the grant money remains unspent.

But apparently lacking organization, management and leadership, Trenton officials have let this initiative founder. The true shame of it, a loss the city eventually will have to deal with, is that they have failed some of the kids who might have chosen a better path.

There are murmurs about reviving the program, but there ought to be an enthusiasm and energy surrounding this early intervention in the lives of children caught skipping school or those charged with low-level offenses. It’s a viable means of helping stem the violent crimes wracking Trenton.

Parents with children who could benefit from Youthstat ought to join us in asking that it be reinstated and then supported.