Video of Congressman Sherman in Action
Specifically, the House approved $800,000 for the residential treatment center, Phoenix Academy in Lake View Terrace, $100,000 for the City of Los Angeles’ Domestic Abuse Response Team (DART) and $100,000 for Chabad of the Valley’s PRIDE program.
The funding was included as part of HR 2847, the Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations Act for the 2010 fiscal year. The legislation, which passed the House yesterday evening, requires Senate approval before being sent to the President for his signature.
“I will continue to work with my colleagues to approve federal funds for important Valley projects, especially programs that focus on making our communities more safe and secure,” said Congressman Brad Sherman.
The largest appropriation is for Phoenix Academy in Lake View Terrace to strengthen family and mental health services for underserved youth in Los Angeles County. Phoenix Academy is the only facility in Los Angeles County that provides long-term residential treatment for teenagers with drug and alcohol problems. It provides vital services to youth and families struggling with substance abuse and mental health problems andrelated difficulties including educational deficits, conduct disorder, poor health, and victimization.
If appropriated, this funding, which was also requested by Representatives Harman, Roybal-Allard, and Berman, would be used to enroll adolescents who would otherwise be unable to afford treatment in the Phoenix Academy. The new funds would add to the $250,000 Sherman secured for the organization’s Access to Treatment Initiative as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2009.
Also included in the legislation was $100,000 in federal funds for the City of Los Angeles’ Domestic Abuse Response Team (DART). Sherman was joined by Representative Watson (D-CA) in requesting these funds.
The Domestic Abuse Response Team (DART) is a law enforcement-based domestic violence crisis response team that seeks to reduce the likelihood of future domestic violence incidents, injury, or escalation. The DART units collaborate with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and victim advocates when responding to reported incidents of domestic violence. Civilian advocates with specialized domestic violence expertise provide counseling, education, referrals to shelters, emergency assistance, and court accompaniment for domestic violence victims and their family members.
Finally, $100,000 is included for Chabad of the Valley’s PRIDE program, which provides at-risk youth with drug and alcohol prevention and crisis intervention services. The PRIDE acronym refers to prevention, resource, information and drug education.
