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Gov. Greg Abbott recently announced a more than $295,000 grant to support the Uvalde County Juvenile Probation Department (UCJPD) and a program aimed at teens with mental health issues.
The program works with youth to prevent future criminal behavior, also providing family resources. Following the deadly school shooting in Uvalde, Gov. Abbott is taking what he considers necessary action to crack down on juvenile crimes.
“The future of Texas is rooted in our state's most precious resource: our children,” Gov. Abbott said in a press release from his office. "Investing in our youth includes providing necessary resources they need to stay on a positive track to the bright opportunities ahead of them. Thank you to TJJD (Texas Juvenile Justice Department) for your commitment to support at-risk youth across Texas and for your hard work in securing this Uvalde program that will help dozens of young Texans in this community."
According to the press release, Abbott authorized a grant of over $295,000 for a youth program tasked with helping teens to cope with mental health and other emotional issues. The UCJPD program provides assistance to students beyond the scope of classroom and school programs. Abbott and the Texas Juvenile Justice Department initiated the grant following the tragedy at Robb Elementary School earlier this year.
"We will use the wraparound care approach focused on the youth and family, with support throughout their three-to-four-month program involvement based on their level of risk and meeting their needs with the appropriate level of care,” Uvalde Juvenile Probation Chief Marilou Ruiz said, according to the press release.
The program hopes to serve approximately 45 students every year. It includes therapy, interviewing, counseling and working closely with teens and their families. The UCJPD will focus on teens on probation or with siblings in the justice system. The goal is to get teens involved in the programs early on.
Abbott has taken several actions since the tragic shooting. He announced the "State of Texas Comprehensive Plan" that assists members of the Uvalde community, invested in mental health resources for families, encouraged donations to Uvalde members impacted, provided school strategies and safety plans, and many other actions mentioned on the governor's website.
According to the Texas Tribune, a Texas House Committee Report determined that most school shooters can be recognized before they do anything impulsive. The Uvalde gunman was found to be displaying violent behavior including threatening women, failing in academics, getting fired from jobs and reporting reoccurring absences from school.
A Fox 26 Houston article lists all the mass shootings in Texas. Almost all perpetrators were young males between the age of 16-25. Gov. Abbott hopes to address youth struggling with mental health issues so these tragedies may be prevented. The nearly $300,000 grant is a measure to prevent crime but also to encourage youth to pursue productive lifestyles and address problems before they become worse.