Establishment of a comprehensive service center for high-risk youth

The Foundation's program, Local Funding Partnerships, was designed to continue a matching grants program to establish partnerships between RWJF and local grant makers in support of innovative, community-based projects that improve health and health care for vulnerable populations.This grant project will establish a service center, in a downtown Little Rock church facility, for approximately 5,200-7,800 high-risk youth that will have the capacity to address the multiple needs and problems confronting these young people in one setting. Services will include first-line medical and dental care, mental health, pregnancy prevention education and counseling, similar services in substance abuse prevention, career counseling and placement, tutoring aimed at school retention and reentry and an opportunity to experience creative expression through the arts. RWJF funds will be concentrated on the health aspects. Staffing will be arranged by collocating personnel from organizations participating in the funding coalition. Key features of the project are: emphasis on prevention through early identification and intervention; strategic basing of services in neighborhoods with high concentrations of problem families and youth; integration of services in a single site; and wide use of volunteers. Matching funds have been pledged by the Arkansas Business Council, local Chamber of Commerce, several corporations and Winthrop Rockefeller, Levi Strauss and Gannett foundations.

Grant Details

Amount Awarded $400,000.00

Awarded on: 7/13/1989

Time frame: 8/1/1989 - 4/30/1991

Grant Number: 15603