The Juvenile Court will be receiving $75,000 from the Juvenile Accountability three-year Block Grant, which was approved in 2009 to fund the Center for Learning Alternatives for Suspended Students. The grant, funded by the Governor’s Office of Children and Families, is entering its third year and final year.

The program, a daytime reporting center to support youth dealing with long-term school suspension, plans to utilize the funds to pay for tutors, program supplies and youth counseling. The program was first of its kind in the state.

According to Associate Judge Lisa Mantz, CLASS has served 33 male students since its inception. These students have shown a 70 percent overall grade increase, with 75 percent of students not reoffending when they return to school.

"The court is very excited to have this opportunity to have this program," said Mantz. "These are for young men who are dealing with long-term expulsion or suspension receiving the services they need to continue their education.

"(CLASS) is a community-based program. All of the child-serving agencies in the county have been very instrumental and helpful in providing support for this program."

The Newton County Sheriff’s Office will be applying for the 2012 General Mills grant. The $42,556 grant will be used to operate programs like Explorer, CHAMPS and Project Lifesaver.

The Sheriff’s Office received a grant earlier this year from the company to help fund CHAMPS, a program teaching over 2,000 students the effects of destructive behavior.

 Help for low-income residents 

The BOC also approved a resolution on to seek funding that will create community-based services to provide aid for low income Newton County citizens. 

The resolution will allow the BOC to submit an application to the state requesting $113,869 from the FY2012 Community Services Block Grant program. The BOC will contract the Georgia Department of Human Resources to implement the programs.