A South Philly-based nonprofit agency has been announced as one of three community-based organizations to be awarded contracts to help operate Community Evening Resource Centers.
The agency, Diversified Community Services, along with Youth Advocate Programs and Community of Compassion CDC Inc., will support Philly youth who have dealt with curfew violations free of charge.
The Centers, which open in December, will operate daily from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. The staff will provide youth with structured activities, including community service and job-readiness training, that promote positive youth development and emphasize conflict resolution, violence prevention, mentoring and service linkages.
“We are committed to ensuring our children are set up for success, especially as COVID-19 creates new challenges for families and students,” said Department of Human Services Commissioner Kimberly Ali in a press release. “We know that community-based, prevention-focused programs help to divert youth from the formal child welfare and juvenile justice systems.”
Support will also be offered for caregivers and parents. A monthly “Parents Night” will provide adults with the resources and information needed to help raise children.
A reformed minor curfew law has been in effect since being signed by Mayor Kenney on Aug. 5. The new law aims to simplify curfew times based on age groups and removes punitive fines associated with curfew violations.
According to the law, curfew for minors 16 years and over is midnight year-round, minors 14-16 have a 10 p.m. curfew, and youth under 13 have a 9:30 p.m. curfew.
“I am looking forward to the new Community Evening Resource Centers opening up before the end of this year,” said Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson, chair of City Council’s Special Committee on Gun Violence Prevention. “Everyone in city government and Philadelphians must work together to provide safe places for our children and offer them alternatives to avoid choosing a life on the streets and negative behavior.”
