Local law enforcement and youth-oriented service groups are getting a major financial boost in keeping kids off drugs and out of gangs, with a newly awarded federal grant.

The Board of State and Community Corrections approved a Justice Assistance Grant in the amount of $715,000 to a coalition of Stanislaus County agencies aiming to serve at-risk youth.

The agencies included in the grant are: The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office; the Boys and Girls Club; Applied Performance Sciences; the Stanislaus Family Justice Center; the Stanislaus Drug Enforcement Agency; the Stanislaus County Probation Department; the Modesto Police Department; and the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office.

The agencies will receive the $715,000 this year, as well as for the next two years, as long as the county meets the performance objectives.

The grant funds will be split among the organizations and will work to expand services, implement new prevention/education programs, mentoring and therapy for at-risk youth, and engage the community and parent involvement. 

On March 1, the BSCC will release the first of three annual installments to the 32 counties in California selected for the funds. A total of 51 counties applied for the grants.