ROYERSFORD, PA — Two organizations serving southeastern Pennsylvania youth will receive nearly $1 million in state funding to expand after-school and prevention programs aimed at improving safety, mental health, and student engagement.
What This Means for You
- Expanded after-school programs will serve students in Montgomery, Chester, and Berks counties
- Funding supports mentoring, mental health resources, and structured activities outside school hours
- Programs target youth facing safety concerns, depression, and substance use risks
The grants — $500,000 to the YWCA Tri-County Area and $460,451 to Trellis for Tomorrow — were approved Wednesday by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s School Safety and Security Committee as part of a broader $64 million statewide funding package.
How the Funding Will Be Used
The YWCA Tri-County Area will use its funding to expand its Youth Community Building and Empowerment initiative, a prevention-focused program operating outside school hours. The program is expected to serve approximately 200 middle school students across the Pottstown, Pottsgrove, and Owen J. Roberts school districts.
Prevention-focused programming refers to efforts designed to address issues such as violence, substance use, and mental health challenges before they escalate.
Programming will include mentoring, structured recreational activities, and “Empowerment Sundays,” which bring students together from multiple districts for group-based learning and support.
Funds will also cover staffing, transportation for participants, program supplies, and operational costs.
Trellis Program Expansion
Trellis for Tomorrow will use $460,451 to expand its existing Garden Club at Pottstown School District into a structured after-school program known as Project Thrive.
The program will serve about 30 middle and high school students each year and will combine gardening education with social-emotional learning, leadership training, mentoring, and hands-on work experiences.
Funding will support staff salaries, transportation for field-based learning at garden sites, and equipment such as grow towers and tools needed for program expansion.
Addressing Youth Needs
According to the funding application, the programs are designed to respond to student-reported challenges, including exposure to school and community violence, low perceptions of safety, and elevated rates of depression, self-harm, and substance use.
State Rep. Joe Ciresi said the funding will help extend support beyond the classroom.
“Helping young people thrive requires looking beyond the school day, and this funding will provide our at-risk youth with the educational, mentoring, and peer-led advocacy supports necessary to help them recognize their own value and their potential for positive change,” Ciresi said.
State Rep. Paul Friel said after-school programs can play a key role during high-risk hours.
“This kind of programming transforms the critical afternoon hours after 3 p.m. into a positive destination where students gain support, build confidence and engage with the community and beyond,” Friel said.
Next Steps
Both programs are expected to expand services in the coming months, with funding supporting staffing, program development, and increased student participation across the region.
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