Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded nine grants totaling $757,836 to organizations across Alabama that provide mentoring, job training and other services aimed at helping young people build productive futures, with part of the funding supporting programs that serve Baldwin County youth.

According to a news release, the grants support programs that provide life skills to at-risk youth, particularly those seeking to avoid or recover from involvement with the juvenile justice system. Funding is administered by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs using money from the U.S. Department of Justice.

“Without positive influences in their lives, young people can be led down a path of destructive decisions and wasted potential,” Gov. Ivey said in the release. “I commend these organizations for their work to guide children in a positive direction.”

One grant with a direct impact on Baldwin County went to Goodwill Industries of the Gulf Coast, which received $99,999 to expand pre-employment training and GED services for middle and high school students. In addition to Baldwin County, the program will serve students in Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe and Washington counties. The services are designed to help students gain workforce readiness skills and improve long-term employment prospects.

“These programs focus on prevention, recovery and education for at-risk youth,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA joins Gov. Ivey in support of these services that help young people learn to lead healthy and prosperous lives.”

Several other organizations across the state also received funding to provide direct services to youth and families.

Vineyard Family Services of Central Alabama Inc. was awarded $100,000 for a program in Shelby County that provides youth and their families with tools to improve workforce readiness, money management and conflict resolution skills.

The St. Clair County Day Program received $51,189 for the Guide Lead Advance and Discover program, which combines therapeutic services with guidance and career readiness training for high-risk adolescents in St. Clair County.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Birmingham was awarded $85,562 to provide positive role models for youth in Jefferson and Montgomery counties, while Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Shoals Inc. received $63,203 to fund a dedicated staff member serving as a family relations and match support specialist for programs in Colbert, Franklin and Lauderdale counties.

Extended Family received $100,000 to continue its Extended Family for Kids and Extended Family Leadership Academy character development programs in DeKalb and Etowah counties.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Tennessee Valley was awarded $66,942 for the Pathways to Prevention Program, which trains high school students to serve as mentors for elementary school students in Madison County.

Family Counseling Center of Mobile Inc. received $100,000 for programs aimed at strengthening families and keeping children in the home in Mobile County.

Family Connection Inc. was awarded $90,941 for its Therapeutic Outreach Prevention Program, which provides in-school prevention services for middle and high school students and aftercare services to strengthen families in Shelby County.

In addition to youth-focused initiatives, ADECA administers a broad range of programs statewide supporting law enforcement, victim services, economic development, water resource management, energy conservation and recreation.