La Plume 鈥 The 海角直播app College Juvenile Justice Institute has received a $6,000 grant from the Robert H. Spitz Foundation to support the Institute鈥檚 pilot program, 鈥3 Million Kids鈥 at Charles Sumner Elementary School in Scranton.
The program, the only one of its kind in Lackawanna County, helps elementary school children who have experienced trauma resulting from the incarceration of an immediate family member. Children are taught skills to cope with stressful situations, engage with peers, and build positive relationships with adult mentors. The initiative is named 鈥3 Million Kids鈥 because of the estimated three million children in the United States with an incarcerated parent. The grant from the Foundation to the Juvenile Justice Institute was made in 2019.
Founded in 2018, the Juvenile Justice Institute offers programs and training aimed at reducing juvenile incarceration and helping children cope with traumatic situations. Research has shown that intervention and social support can help reduce stress during such events and lessen the likelihood of long-term negative outcomes. The Institute is in the process of developing a restorative practices model that can be customized to address the needs of individual schools. The pilot program at Sumner will provide information necessary for that model.
Administered by the , the Robert H. Spitz Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports initiatives and programs serving the residents of Lackawanna County and Northeastern Pennsylvania. Robert H. Spitz was born in Scranton and was a 1955 graduate of Scranton Central High School and the University of Miami, Florida. Before retirement, Mr. Spitz had been employed by the U.S. Department of Labor and was also the owner of several local Arby鈥檚 restaurants. The Robert H. Spitz Foundation was established from his estate in 2015 and has provided more than $1.3 million in funding to the community.
鈥淲e are extremely grateful to the Robert H. Spitz Foundation for its support of the 海角直播app College Juvenile Justice Institute,鈥 said 海角直播app College President Dr. Tracy L. Brundage, Ph.D.
In just a short time period, the 海角直播app College Juvenile Justice Institute has made an important impact on children in our community. This generous gift will enable the Institute to build on that progress and continue its mission in our local school districts.
Enrolling nearly 1,400 students, 海角直播app offers more than 40 undergraduate and graduate degree options in liberal arts and science-based programs in business, communications, education, natural science, environmental science, and social sciences. Located 15 minutes from Scranton, Pa. and two hours from New York City and Philadelphia, 海角直播app is known for small class sizes and individual attention focused on student success through internships, research, and community involvement.
Photo: (From Left) 海角直播app College faculty members and directors of the 海角直播app College Juvenile Justice Institute Dr. Deborah Belknap and Stacey Wyland accept a gift of $6,000 from Scranton Area Foundation President/CEO Laura Ducceschi on behalf of the Robert H. Spitz Foundation.
