EDITOR’S NOTE: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the total award amount as $2.6 million.
This week, the board of the Indianapolis Foundation, a philanthropic fund under the umbrella of the Central Indiana Community Foundation, awarded over $2.06 million to 48 area nonprofit organizations as part of Phase II of the Community Crime Prevention Grant Program.
“I am proud that for the second year in a row we have grown Community Crime Prevention Grant funding, helping to provide additional resources for neighborhoods-based organizations and encourage continued collaboration with our public safety officials,” said Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett. “In partnership with The Indianapolis Foundation and the City-County Council, we remain committed to fundamentally addressing the root causes of crime and aiding our most vulnerable populations. Together, we can ensure that all residents have the chance to live in safe, prosperous neighborhoods.”
In April of 2013, the Indianapolis Foundation entered into an agreement with the City-County Council to manage the council’s grant program. This year, the council voted to approve an increase in funding, taking the total from $2 million to $2,650,500. Phase I of the crime prevention grant funding totaled $400,000 and was given to 10 area organizations that focus on street outreach and conflict resolution.
According to the grant’s criteria, award recipients in Phase II were chosen based on their ability to prevent violent crimes among residents, serve African-American males ages 14-24 in high-crime areas, provide intervention or prevention services to adults or youth currently interacting with the criminal justice system and/or improve neighborhood safety within the six focus areas designated by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD).
“The organizations that have received a Community Crime Prevention grant have implemented results-driven programs that address the City-County Council’s crime prevention, intervention and reduction priorities,” said Alicia Collins, community collaborations manager with CICF. “The Indianapolis Foundation believes the City-County Council’s decision to increase the total dollar amount for Phase II this year will have a significant impact on our city.”
Grant recipient Bloom Project Inc. was awarded $15,000 for Project King, a yearlong mentoring program for boys ages 12-18 that focuses on character development, trauma, systemic violence and crime prevention topics.
Bloom founder Arnetta Scruggs shared that the grant application process was at times strenuous but gave her organization the chance to review the work they’re doing.
“It really gave us an opportunity to look at our reporting and what we’re evaluating and to make sure we’re impacting the areas we’re in,” she said. Scruggs noted that this funding will help the organization expand into more schools, neighborhoods and apartment communities across the entire city. Currently, the organization has been involved most heavily on the northwest and east sides of Indianapolis.
The Greater Indianapolis Literacy League, another grantee, was given $50,000. The organization, also known as Indy Reads, will use the funding to support its Community Classrooms for Success program, which provides literacy services in English language proficiency to 400 returning citizens at 15 community-based sites. The plan is to have participants transition into adult basic education and high school equivalency classes.
Ryan King, Indy Reads CEO, said statistically speaking, there is a great need in the city for programs of this sort. National studies have shown that more than 75 percent of those incarcerated are illiterate. Research also shows that literacy programs have been effective in reducing rates of recidivism.
“For us, it’s trying to address those issues from a prevention and intervention standpoint,” he said.
Phase II Grant Recipients
|
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana |
Mentoring More At-Risk, High-Risk and Juvenile Justice-Involved Youth |
Evidence-based, one-to-one mentoring model approach to at-risk, high-risk and juvenile justice-involved youth in IMPD focus areas |
$30,000 |
|
Bloom Project Inc. |
Project King |
Year-round mentoring program for men ages 12-18 that focuses on character development, trauma, systemic violence and crime prevention |
$15,000 |
|
Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis |
Evening Reporting Centers (ERC) |
Evening Reporting Centers are part of the Alternative to Detention initiative with the juvenile court system, which serves 160 youth as a means to connect them to community-based programming and support within the Boys & Girls Clubs. |
$45,000 |
|
Brookside Community Church of Indianapolis Inc. |
Brookside Community Reentry |
Expanding reentry one-stop services that prevent 120 returning citizens from the Brookside neighborhood from returning to prison |
$30,000 |
|
Child Advocates Inc. |
Educational Advocacy and Mentoring for Children and Youth in Foster Care |
Educational advocacy services for 80 Children in Need of Services (CHIN) (victims of abuse & neglect) cases to improve educational and behavioral outcomes and ensure that youth remain in school |
$50,000 |
|
Concord Center Association Inc. |
Youth and Young Adult Development |
Neighborhood-based youth development program for ages 12-26 to include recreation, career readiness and paid/unpaid internships for 175 participants to reduce entry into juvenile justice |
$20,000 |
|
Dove Recovery House for Women Inc. |
Dove Recovery House for Women at Summerlin Place |
To provide 100 women transitional housing, substance abuse treatment and access to trauma informed care to reduce recidivism |
$50,000 |
|
Edna Martin Christian Center |
Career Education and Training Academy: Intervention for Returning Citizens |
Support 40 returning citizens with career education and training to include case management, Center for Working Families programming and occupational skills to reduce recidivism |
$40,000 |
|
Eskenazi Health Foundation |
Eskenazi Health Prescription for Hope |
Hospital-based Level 1 Shock Trauma -violence intervention program focused on reducing the threat of violent personal injury and criminal activity by helping victims and their families make life changing/saving choices while admitted into trauma center. Serves a minimum of 70 clients. |
$75,000 |
|
Fathers and Families Resource/Research Center |
Young Strong Fathers |
Fatherhood development program providing 100 fathers and expecting fathers parenting classes, education and employment supportive services to reduce interaction with criminal justice system and encourage healthy family involvement, productive citizenship and self-sufficiency |
$45,000 |
|
Flanner House of Indianapolis Inc. |
Crime Prevention |
Job readiness/life skills program to include case management services in collaboration with F.E.E.D. program for 140 participants to reduce recidivism |
$40,000 |
|
Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis |
Strong Program Suite |
Provide the Strong, Healthy Relationship program to 1,500 girls, ages 6-18 who attend schools or the Boys and Girls Clubs within IMPD’s focus areas |
$20,000 |
|
Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana Inc. |
CARE Mobile Pantry |
Support the CARE Mobile food distribution to provide year-round services to the six focus neighborhoods. Over 11 months, at least 65,000 duplicated households will be served. |
$30,000 |
|
Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana |
New Beginnings Supportive Services |
New Beginnings is a 6-month transitional jobs program that includes educational training, employment, life skill development and coaching for 75 returning citizens in commercial services and retail outlets. |
$45,000 |
|
Great Commission Church of God |
Young Men Inc. Mentoring Program |
A year-round mentoring program for African-American males, ages 8-16. Program to impact 55 participants and their families. |
$10,000 |
|
Greater Indianapolis Literacy League |
Community Classrooms for Success |
Provide literacy services and English language proficiency to returning citizens in 15 community-based sites. Serving 400 students with the goal of transitioning into adult basic education or high school equivalency classes to improve employability. |
$50,000 |
|
Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee |
Department of Metropolitan Development Collaboration |
A job development program with the city’s Department of Metropolitan Development to identify employers to hire returning citizens serving 50 participants. |
$30,000 |
|
Groundwork Indy |
Groundwork Indy Youth Development Programs: Green Team & GroundCorp |
Supports youth employment programs for people between the ages of 14-24 that provide constructive, structured, community-centered activities and career opportunities for 40 youth. |
$40,000 |
|
Hawthorne Social Service Association Inc. |
Natural Guardians Program |
Center for Working Families programing, which provides comprehensive case management with strong relationships and community mentoring; serves 50 residents with a criminal history. |
$42,000 |
|
Horizon House Inc. |
Reentry for Homeless |
Holistic support services to 1,100 homeless Marion County residents who have criminal histories or felony conviction. |
$45,000 |
|
Indiana University Foundation |
Evaluating and Empowering Neighborhood Crime Prevention in Mid-North Indianapolis |
Neighborhood-level evaluation of MLK Center’s collaborative programming to reduce risk factors for youth violence in the Butler Tarkington Neighborhood and Crown Hill neighborhoods; Increase residents’ understanding of crime-related statistics and empower them to make informed decisions about the perceptions of their neighborhoods and perception of the fear of violence. |
$50,000 |
|
Indianapolis Legal Aid Society Inc. |
Indianapolis Legal Aid Society Expungement Project |
To provide full representation for 50 clients seeking expungement in Marion County. |
$30,000 |
|
Indianapolis Private Industry Counsel (EmployIndy) |
E^7 Essentials |
To support a re-engagement center for opportunity youth, ages 16-24, who are disconnected from either education or employment that provides services and activities to meaningful pathways to jobs. The center will operate in proximity of 42nd and Post Road. |
$50,000 |
|
Indianapolis Urban League |
IUL Community Access & Reintegration Effort (CARE) Program |
Job readiness and employment program serves approximately 100 non-violent and non-sexual offenders to help reduce recidivism. |
$50,000 |
|
John Boner Neighborhood Centers |
Rapid Response Reentry (R3) |
Serves 75 returning citizens by providing pre- and post release case management, employment, education, financial and barrier-busting services through an integrated service delivery model to reduce recidivism. |
$50,000 |
|
John P. Craine House Inc. |
Overcoming Obstacles |
Serves 100 non-violent women and their pre-school age children with case management, substance abuse and mental health services to reduce recidivism |
$50,000 |
|
Martin Luther King Community Center |
Neighborhood Crime Prevention |
A multi-agency, resident-driven, trauma-informed community-building project that provides services to and engagement with families in Butler-Tarkington & Crown Hill Neighborhoods to reduce neighborhood-level crime and increases positive perception of the neighborhood. This will impact 350 residents. |
$50,000 |
|
Murphy Mentoring Group Inc. |
U-Turn Mentoring Project |
Using evidence based curricula to mentor 25 youth, ages, 14-18, for 10 weeks on the Far Eastside. |
$10,000 |
|
Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic |
Project GRACE |
Civil legal assistance aimed at helping 2,800 individuals with criminal histories reintegrate into the community. |
$30,000 |
|
Neighborhood Self Employment Initiative of Indiana (Business Ownership Initiative) |
Reentry Entrepreneurship Development Initiative |
Support a 6-week small business education and training program with one-on-one coaching to pre- and post-released returning citizens. Serves 467 individuals. |
$32,500 |
|
Oasis Christian Community Development Corporation |
M.U.S.T.A.R.D Seed Plus |
Job skills training and placement for 40 delinquent youth with supportive services provided by Edna Martin and PACE. |
$25,000 |
|
PACE Inc. |
Reaching More |
A reentry organization providing Center for Working Family supports, addition and recovery services to 1,000 new clients to reduce recidivism |
$100,000 |
|
Pathway Resource Center Inc. |
Project HOT (Helping Others Transform) |
Community anti-violence & unity awareness campaign through events and activities, career preparedness for youth and adults; Serves 150 residents. |
$40,000 |
|
Pathway to Recovery Inc. |
Pathway Supportive Housing Program |
Transitional housing, case management, employment preparation & training services for 50 homeless returning citizens with dual diagnosis. |
$45,000 |
|
Peace Learning Center |
Indy Peacebuilders |
Peace education and restorative justice practices, serving 1,750 students in Arlington Community and Arsenal Tech High School to decrease suspension and expulsions due to incidents of violence. |
$50,000 |
|
Progress House Inc. |
Funding for the Future |
Recovery house for men who have been impacted by the criminal justice system. Providing 47 men with counseling services, case management, job readiness and employment support. |
$35,000 |
|
Second Helpings |
Job Skills, Life Skills and Employability – A Recipe for Better Futures |
Culinary training, case management, and employment supports for approximately 112 students with a criminal history. |
$50,000 |
|
Southside Youth Council / (Reach For Youth) |
Counseling Services for At-Risk Youth and Families |
Counseling to absent or truant middle school students referred by prosecutor’s office, the Teen Court program and students in the Alternative to Expulsion program who are in danger of suspension and expulsion. Serves approximately 160 youth. |
$50,000 |
|
Step-Up Inc. |
Thresholds & Transitions |
Pre-release services and post release case management support serving approximately 150 Marion County offenders returning citizens to reduce recidivism |
$60,000 |
|
Stop the Violence Indianapolis Inc. |
Neighborhood Safety LINCS |
Engage opportunity youth, ages 14-24 within the Indy HeartBeat focus area with training, stipends, coaching and community dialogue to reduce youth violence. |
$50,000 |
|
TeenWorks |
TeenWorks Summer Employment Program & Year-Round Academic Support Program |
Engage 200 youth in the 360 Year-Round Academic Support Program and 400 youth in the 2017 Summer Employment Program. Program focuses on mentoring, college readiness and career exploration with a focus on public safety and improving teen-police relations. |
$50,000 |
|
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis |
Mid-North Promise Program |
A cradle-to-career neighborhood-based strategy to engage 30 families (90 individuals) with long term family learning plans toward age appropriate education goals for both child and parent. |
$40,000 |
|
The Domestic Violence Network |
Healthy & Safe Teen Relationships |
Coordinated and sequential programming with Social Health Association providing bullying and peer violence education for 6th through 12 graders in IPS, Lawrence Township schools and 100 Black Men. Serves 10,000 youth. |
$70,000 |
|
Trusted Mentors |
Mentoring 3 Tracks to Success |
Pre- and post-release mentoring and case management services to minimum of 110 returning citizens to establish support network, assist with community reintegration, housing and employment to reduce recidivism. |
$50,000 |
|
Volunteers of America of Indiana Inc. |
Behavioral Health – Intensive Out-Patient Services |
Counseling, parenting skills and case management for women (Theodora House-based) and men (Brandon Hall) currently involved in the criminal justice system. Serves 250. |
$60,000 |
|
Workforce Inc. |
From Prisoner to Citizen |
A social enterprise to provide transitional jobs, peer mentoring and training to 170 returning citizens residing in Duvall Residential Facility and Craine House. Clients also receive comprehensive social services. |
$75,000 |
|
YMCA of Greater Indianapolis |
Y-Future Leaders Mentoring Program |
Academic enrichment, workforce development and parent engagement for youth currently interacting, have interacted or at-risk of interacting with the Marion County Juvenile Detention Center to help 1600 youth effectively reintegrate into the community and reduce recidivism. |
$50,000 |
|
Young Audiences Indiana |
Inside Arts |
Support a storytelling-center opportunity using digital media stories for youth, ages 14-24, currently interacting with the criminal justice system. |
$10,000 |
|
Total |
|
$2,064,500 |
|
