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<br />4b <br /> <br />Currently there are approximately 400 juveniles/children involved on a full or part. <br /> <br />time basis at the P .A.L. as many of the programs offered are seasonal, however <br /> <br />there are some types of programs on-going on a year round basis. This membership <br /> <br />is up from approximately 260 juveniles/children last year. The current P .A.L. <br /> <br />coordinator has been able to organize and expand the programs and activities of <br /> <br />P .A.L. to include a greatly increased number of Lamar County youth involved in a <br /> <br />rapidly growing program. The coordinator also oversees a Juvenile First Offenders <br /> <br />Program so that the youth that are already in trouble can have an opportunity to <br /> <br />receive probation on condition of mandatory attendance at the Police Athletic <br /> <br />League. The P .A.L. officer also works closely with the juvenile probation/parole <br /> <br />office and oversees a community service work program as an alternative to juvenile <br /> <br />detention. <br /> <br />Without the funding that this grant provides it is almost a certainty that none of the <br /> <br />aforementioned programs could exist or survive. The P.A.L. is the only youth center <br /> <br />in the area for juveniles between the ages of 14 to 18, and since there are <br /> <br />approximately 8,000 children in Lamar County between the ages of 8 and 18 we feel <br /> <br />that this is significant. One of the main goals of the P .A.L. is to provide a variety of <br /> <br />after school and summer programs, some athletic and educational, that will teach <br /> <br />and encourage drug.free and violence.free lifestyles. The programs will also attempt <br /> <br />d..... . . - .--- to stimulate niore- parental involvement in the lives of the participating children. <br /> <br />~ <br />! <br />I <br />I <br />