The Berrien County Board of Commissioners has accepted a $266,000 grant to implement a life skills program at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Southwest Michigan.
Commissioners approved a resolution Thursday accepting the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program grant to expand its Peers Making Peace program at Boys and Girls Club location in Benton Harbor.
The resolution notes the county contracted with the city of Benton Harbor in 2016 to provide a resource officer at Boys and Girls Club locations. It says that partnership has been a success, and now the county would like to grow Peers Making Peace, using the resource officer to teach young people about social skills, conflict prevention and resolution, peer modeling, and coaching.
The goal is to reduce assaults, expulsions, absences, and disciplinary referrals in schools.
With approval of the grant, the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department can now get to work on that initiative.
