Congresswoman Brown Announces $1.3 Million in Federal Grants for Violence Prevention, Reentry Support and Youth Mentorship Programs in Northeast Ohio

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) and the Department of Justice – Office of Justice Programs (OJP) announce two federal grants totaling more than $1.39 million for Northeast Ohio non-profits serving constituents in need.

Project Lift Behavioral Health Services will receive a grant of $749,848 for their Empowered Transitions program to address the root causes of youth violence, reduce recidivism, and promote healing. The Northern Ohio Recovery Association (NORA) will receive a federal grant of $650,000 to expand their JumpStart for a Better Tomorrow program, which provides mentoring, education, and support for youth affected by opioid and other substance misuse. 

These competitive grants originated from OJP’s Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention.

“Congratulations to Project Lift and NORA on receiving these competitive federal grants supporting important programs for young people in Northeast Ohio. I am so grateful for the work they do for our community and excited that federal funding will help expand their reach and impact. Project Lift and NORA are tackling tough problems and providing services to people who are often overlooked. These grants are a reminder of the importance of Congress fully funding our federal law enforcement and social services agencies, so that more grants like these can have a local impact. I will continue to work with federal, state, and local partners to help Northeast Ohio receive the grants we need,” said Congresswoman Shontel Brown.

$749,848 to Project Lift Behavioral Health Services: The Department of Justice has awarded Project Lift Behavioral Health Services $749,848 for their proposed Empowered Transitions program, providing a comprehensive trauma-informed violence reduction program to address the root causes of youth violence and promote healing. The program will provide case management, life skills training, and treatment in partnership with community organizations, schools, and government agencies to reduce recidivism and youth violence.  The funding is authorized by the Second Chance Act and is intended to address and improve the reentry and recidivism challenges encountered by youth returning to their communities from juvenile residential or correctional facilities.

$650,000 to the Northern Ohio Recovery Association: The Department of Justice has awarded the Northern Ohio Recovery Association $650,000 to extend the reach of its JumpStart for a Better Tomorrow (JSBT) program to reach middle school youth in grades 6–9 in Cuyahoga County, OH, with a special focus on the geographic region of Cleveland East: the City of East Cleveland, Euclid-Green, Glenville, and Collinwood-Nottingham. JSBT students attend schools with higher suspension and chronic absenteeism rates and experience a history of family substance abuse. JSBT will provide afterschool group mentoring sessions in addition to case management and wraparound support. JSBT aims to build resiliency skills that will carry youth through high school.

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