State awards grants for counseling, mentoring

One grant is to help ex-offenders re-enter the work force.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Two Mahoning County organizations received a total of more than $900,000 in state grants to provide mentoring and counseling programs, primarily for young people.
Youngstown Urban Minority Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Outreach Program received a $500,000 grant while Meridian Services Inc. received $469,750 from the Governor's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives.
The grants are part of $12 million distributed across the state as part of the Ohio Strengthening Families Initiative.
Darryl Alexander, executive director of the outreach program, said his agency's grant will be used to reunite families and former offenders who return to the area and to reduce recidivism.
It also will be used to help young people whose parents were incarcerated to reduce the risks of them repeating their parent's mistakes.
"The ultimate aim is to help [ex-offenders] to become responsible, productive individuals and tax-paying members of society," Alexander said.
Elements involved
He said the program will involve several elements including a spiritual component for those who wish to participate.
Another element helps to identify relapse triggers for an individual that contributed to their problems in the first place. Each individual involved with receive help in changing the way they respond to those relapse triggers so they don't repeat the behavior.
The grant is for one year with the possibility to reapply for a second year, Alexander said.
The executive director said that program, headquartered on Glenwood Avenue, Youngstown, is collaborating with Abigail's House, a Trumbull County homeless shelter for women; Flying High Inc., a youth program on Winthrop Drive, Austintown; and Greater Youngstown Point, a homeless shelter on Wick Avenue.
The program serves about 300 people annually, primarily middle and high school pupils with school and after-school programs.
Ellie Platt, communications-development coordinator at Meridian Services, headquartered on North Meridian Road, said that agency will act as a mentoring scholarship center for 10 faith and community-based organizations.
It will serve vulnerable teens and young adults, ages 16 to 21, in Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana and Ashtabula counties.
Examples of young people who may seek the service as those who are leaving the foster care system.
Meridian Services will administer the program and distribute the scholarships.
"The money is flowing through us," Platt said.
This marks the first year the money has been available, and Meridian Services is one of six agencies in the state to act as a mentoring scholarship center.
Their choice
The young people will come to Meridian Services, many through other services provided by the agency, and be able to choose from which organization they want to receive mentoring.
"We really want this to be cooperative in nature and to share this with the rest of the community," said Larry Moliterno, Meridian Services CEO.
Platt said that participation is open to other organizations to provide mentoring.
"The reason we want other organizations involved is that we want to offer as many choices for the kids and their families as we can," Moliterno said.
Platt said the program is projected to serve about 300 young people this year.