Craven County Transitional Home Opens

The North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention held a Ribbon Cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the juvenile transitional home in Craven County. First Gentleman Robert Eaves and Secretary Linda W. Hayes joined community members, lawmakers, government officials, and juvenile justice representatives in celebrating the opening of this vital resource for the community and the State.

Many youth leaving the care and custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (DJJDP) do not have a caring and supportive family to help them transition. These youth often return to their home communities and face a number of negative influences. To help ensure these youth stay on track to become successful adults, DJJDP has partnered with Methodist Home for Children to provide a transition to an independent living environment. The Craven County Transitional Home will provide youth seeking to better themselves, an opportunity to continue their education, develop vocational/occupational skills, and learn independent living skills. Beyond providing the youth living at the home an opportunity to develop these essential life skills, the home will also be a resource to the local community. Staff from the home will partner with local churches to provide group counseling sessions for local teens that are in need.

Secretary Hayes stated, "This home will provide youth seeking an opportunity to turn their lives around, the proper environment in which to make those changes. The youth residing in this home will be going to college, developing vocational skills or getting jobs so they can become successful young adults." Reverend Bruce Stanley, President/CEO of Methodist Home for Children stated, "Credit goes to DJJDP for having the vision to prepare young people for success, especially those who have no other sources of support and encouragement. The Department has managed to be bold and to create youth initiatives that will change lives during what is arguably one of the most difficult budget years in our state government."

The transitional home will provide approximately 11 new jobs and have an estimated $500,000 economic impact on the local community. This project was made possible through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Left to right: First Gentleman, Robert Eaves; Secretary, Linda W. Hayes; Methodist Home Board Member, Jean Bender and granddaughter Kate; County Commissioners: Steve Tyson, and Theron McCabe.