BALTIMORE, MD (Friday, March 17, 2023) – Today, the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE) announced a total of $375,000 in grant allocations for eight organizations who will serve as inaugural service providers for the SideStep pre-arrest youth diversion program. Awardees will provide services to youth and their families referred as part of the program.
“SideStep is about ensuring that our young people grow up safe, alive, and free,” said Executive Director Shantay Jackson of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement. “We have a responsibility to support young people in Baltimore as they learn and grow on their journey to adulthood. Together, with our community-based partners and thanks to Mayor Scott's commitment, we are taking on that work as a community.”
The SideStep pre-arrest youth diversion program seeks to respond to the needs of youth and families in their own community. As an alternative to the formal justice system, SideStep provides young people with transformative assistance from trusted community-based organizations to improve their lives and help them reach their full potential. The program was designed and developed by young people in West Baltimore, justice-system partners determined to reform law enforcement interactions with youth, and community-based organizations after the 2015 uprising and is a partnership between MONSE, community-based organizations, the Baltimore Police Department, and the Department of Juvenile Services.
In December 2022, MONSE announced a Request for Applications (RFA) from Baltimore community-based organizations interested in partnering with the City as a referral partner for SideStep.
Based on organization funding requests and recommendations from Baltimore’s community grant reviewers, eight organizations will receive the following awards:
- AZIZA PE&CE: $50,000
- Baltimore Safe Haven: $50,000
- Baltimore Youth Arts: $50,000
- Dream Bigger Community Institute: $25,000
- Holistic Life Foundation: $50,000
- Islamic Leadership Institute of America Inc.: $50,000
- Roberta's House: $50,000
- Tendea Family: $50,000
MONSE is currently working through an external evaluation and a citywide scale-up following the launch of the SideStep pilot program in the Western Police District in January 2022.
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