Palmetto Mentoring Network aims to cut down on gang activity, juvenile violence

CHARLESTON, SC – May 4, 2010 – The South Carolina Department ofEducation’s Office of Youth Services has received a $486,169federal grant to fund a Palmetto Mentoring Network made up ofsite-based, community mentoring projects to prevent and reduce gangrecruitment and juvenile violence in four counties.

The Office ofJuvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention grant will pay forservices to 590 at-risk children in grades 1–3 and 590 mentors inCharleston, Greenville, Orangeburg and Richland counties. 

“Mentoring is not just a feel-good strategy,” said State Superintendentof Education Jim Rex.  “It has proven results for both the children andadults who care enough to make the commitment of just one hour a week.  Young people who have a mentor are more likely to stay in school and goon to college, raise their life aspirations, stay away from drugs, seekteachers’ trust, help others and avoid fights and other violentbehavior.”

The Education Department is working with James Island Community Schooland Coastal Harvest Church, Frazee Dream Center, Orangeburg CountyCommunity of Character and City Year Columbia to implement the localmentoring initiatives.  Schools involved include Murray LaSaineElementary in Charleston, Frazee Dream Center in Greenville, MellichampElementary in Orangeburg School District Five and Sandel ElementarySchool in Richland District One.

The mentoring network’s goal is to help at-risk children and theirfamilies develop healthy, positive behaviors and resiliency that willenable them to resist gang recruitment and violence.  Mentoring effortswill help young people improve their academic performance and avoidnegative outcomes, while leading to positive growth and personaldevelopment.

The network will focus on strengthening support services for childrenand parents or caregivers, along with forming collaborative communitypartnerships to increase the capacity and sustainability of mentoringprograms.