Youth Arts: Unlocked (YAU) has announced a new federal grant to support high-quality arts programming for justice-involved youth aimed at reducing juvenile delinquency, recidivism, and other problem and high-risk behaviors.
YAU was one of five programs nationwide to be chosen for this federal grant awarded through the U.S. Justice Department’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
Numerous studies have shown that introducing arts to troubled youth helps to increase the protective factors that reduce juvenile recidivism. Often young people who commit crimes are plagued by deep-seated trauma.
Art, in its many forms, helps to heal that trauma and assists these young people in making positive changes for their future.
“I am proud to have helped secure this critical federal funding for Youth Arts: Unlocked to support youth in Genesee County,” said Congressman Dan Kildee (D-Flint). “This program supports mid-Michigan children as they improve their physical and mental well-being and develop strong interpersonal skills. In Congress, I will always fight to bring federal funding back to mid-Michigan to help our children and community thrive.”
