Congressman Cuellar Announces $650,000 in Federal Funds for SCAN
Laredo,
Oct 15 -
Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28) today announced two grants totaling $650,000 for Serving Children and Adolescents in Need (SCAN). The federal funds will help establish a Webb County Teen Court and expand the Listo Para Responder Prevention Project.
“I commend SCAN and Judge Oscar Liendo for the strong interest they place in helping our troubled teenagers. Many times, all these kids need is for someone to show them that they care for them and that they are valued members of society,” said Congressman Cuellar.
Specifically, the teen court grant is for $600,000 and the Listo Para Responder is receiving $50,000. The purpose of creating a teen court is to prevent troubled teenagers from becoming repeat offenders in the juvenile system, while the Listo Para Responder project will provide HIV prevention services to Hispanic women in Laredo.
“The Webb County Teen Court will allow teen volunteers to provide positive role-modeling for peers who are beginning to get in trouble and to give them the help they need to prevent them from getting involved in the criminal justice system or from developing substance abuse problems,” said SCAN CEO Isela Dabdoub.
As part of the teen court, SCAN is partnering with Oscar Liendo, Justice of the Peace Precinct 1, Place 2, and will integrate substance abuse and trauma treatment services for teen court participants in an effort to discourage them from being repeat offenders. With the exception of the judge, the teen court will be made up of local teenagers who have volunteered to serve as prosecuting and defense attorneys as well as jury members. The project will serve a total of 200 youth from the ages of thirteen to eighteen.
“The teen court program provides an exciting and new opportunity for students in our community to get involved in the judicial process,” said Judge Oscar Liendo. “Our volunteers are able and ready to get the program running in full swing and we look forward to successful outcomes.”
The Listo Para Responder program is intended to provide HIV prevention services to at least 200 Hispanic women 18 years and older.
