WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Lois Capps announced today that the Santa Barbara Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Program received over $450,000 in funding from the U.S. Department of Justice. The funding is for the Fighting Back School Based Mentoring Program, which is a 14-year initiative of the Santa Barbara Fighting Back community partnership. This project targets youth aged 8 to14 in several high risk neighborhoods in Santa Barbara and Isla Vista, California. The youth come from families in which one or more members are gang-involved, and/or exhibit other risk factors. The project will match 210 youth with screened, trained adult mentors who provide a one-to-one mentoring relationship in a school setting, through structured group activities, and at community locations in the summer months.

“I am thrilled the Justice Department has recognized both the need in the Santa Barbara community to combat gang violence and the exemplary work the Fighting Back School Based Mentoring Program provides to our local young people,” said Congresswoman Capps. “This grant will keep our streets safer and help our community’s most vulnerable young people realize their full potential. Supporting mentors for troubled youth is an investment that will provide immeasurable returns for years to come.”

“We are so grateful that the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Program (OJJDP) has given us this opportunity to expand our program and positively influence the lives of many more youth in this community,” said Juliana Lee, Mentor Program Coordinator. “All of our amazing mentors have already helped change the lives of hundreds of kids and now we can ensure that they will continue to have the support throughout the years to come. Our volunteers come from all walks of life, but have one thing in common: a passionate heart to empower the lives of our youth. The Fighting Back Mentor Program is fortunate to have such a strong group of caring adults making a difference every day in this community. We are absolutely thrilled to receive this award and are incredibly excited about all that is to come from it!”

“It has become increasingly clear to us -- the citizens of Santa Barbara-- that our children are at risk due to the influence of gangs. Mentoring provides an effective prevention mechanism that reduces the recruitment pool of potential gang members” said Ed Cue, Director of Delinquency Programs Director. “Our children are looking for role models. The adults that mentor children are heroes in the eyes of those children. We need more adults to take a stand and become mentors, not because it is popular or politically correct, but because it's the right thing to do. Funding from the Department of Justice will go a long ways to make that happen for children in South Santa Barbara County.”