Pubdate: Tue, 17 Apr 2002
Source: Hartford Courant (CT)
Copyright: 2002 The Hartford Courant
Contact:  http://www.ctnow.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/183
Author: Colin Poitras
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

GRANT TO BOOST YOUTH TREATMENT

Agencies To Receive $3.75 Million

HARTFORD -- As director of community health for the Greater Hartford Urban 
League, Suzette Benn sees it every day: young men and women with substance 
abuse problems struggling to pull their lives together.

At the Urban League, trained counselors not only help troubled adolescents 
deal with their alcohol and drug addictions, they also assist them with 
finishing their education, getting housing and lining up work.

It's a package deal, and there is never a shortage of clientele.

Thanks to a $3.75 million federal grant obtained by the state Department of 
Children and Families, the Urban League and other community-based services 
soon will be able to enhance and expand their neighborhood treatment programs.

Benn is delighted.

"There is definitely a need to work with these young people," Benn said Monday.

The five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 
allocates $750,000 a year to DCF to help strengthen local networks of care 
for troubled Hartford-area youths.

The money targets boys and girls ages 12 to 17. The goal is to use 
established programs like those at the Urban League to identify and serve a 
greater number of youths considered at risk before their problems get 
severe, officials said.

"If we can use early interventions with kids just starting to get into 
trouble in their neighborhoods, homes and schools to prevent more serious 
problems in the future, we can make a real and positive difference," DCF 
Commissioner Kristine D. Ragaglia said.

The Hispanic Health Council and the University of Connecticut Health Center 
also are participating. Professionals in the field say the need for more 
counseling is well established.

It is estimated that between 500 to 600 kids in the greater Hartford area 
are in need of some sort of drug treatment, according to Peter Panzarella, 
director of substance abuse services at DCF.
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MAP posted-by: Beth