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A yearlong strategic planning study aimed at integrating the juvenile justice system into a community wide effort to promote healthy youth and families is underway in Monroe County. One of five counties selected under a grant from the Federal Bureau of Juvenile Justice, the Active Balanced Community project was formed to strengthen systems and develop programs to fill gaps, according to Charlie Mahoney, co-site coordinator of Active Balanced Community and vice-chair of the Southeast Michigan Community Alliance’s (SEMCA) Work Force Development Board. |
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Made-up of community leaders and representatives from local businesses, human service organizations including SEMCA, and other non-profit community groups, the Active Balanced Community initiative is divided into five work groups and a steering committee. The mission of this project is to connect the community with resources that encourages responsible families and positive behaviors in youth in Monroe County. To achieve this goal, the group is actively educating the community and gathering data that will be implemented over the next two years. “Like other counties in Michigan, there are at risk youth and families that require some kind of support to make it,” said Mahoney. “Active Balanced Community is about the residents recognizing those needs and moving to address them.” Judge Pamela Moskwa, co-chair of Active Balanced Community, said the project’s goal is to address the need for prevention and youth services in the community. “Often the cases that reach our court have very complex and serious problems,” said Moskwa. “Engaging and mobilizing Monroe’s community will create a healthy environment that addresses these problems early on.” |
 Members of the Active Balanced Community Youth Workgroup spoke directly to the youth of the community. This group presented ideas about how Monroe can celebrate it’s diversity. |
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Mahoney says once the plan is implemented, the next step will be moving the community forward in its responsibilities to become and maintain its new role as an Active Balanced Community.
“If we have succeeded, we will see both human service and private sector organizations adopting the vision and mission of the plan,” said Mahoney. “There needs to be an on-going effort to keep people educated about Active Balanced Community’s mission,” said Moskwa. “If it’s kept in the forefront, our chances of succeeding are greatly increased, if we can get the whole community involved.” To learn more about the Active Balanced Community project please visit www.activebalanced community.org. |
 Mike Hoydic of Monroe United Way and Judge Pamela Moskwa explain the goals of Active Balanced Community to the residents of Monroe County. |
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