June 16, 2022
Harrisburg − June 15, 2022 − Senator Jim Brewster announced today that he is the prime co-sponsor of legislation aimed at improving student mental health. This bill seeks to put more school-based mental health care programs and professionals into classrooms.
Senator Brewster and Senator Williams are co-sponsoring SB 1285, which will focus the majority of grants awarded through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s School Safety and Security program for the 2022-23 school year on funding applications for projects that support students’ behavioral and mental health.
“As a member of Pennsylvania’s School Safety and Security Committee, I have been a leading advocate for more resources for mental health services in our schools,” Brewster said. “This legislation will direct a majority of funding for 2022-2023 to school districts for additional mental and behavioral health programming.”
This legislation is modeled after a similar step that the General Assembly took in 2020, when it temporarily focused these grants on responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Even before the pandemic, students have been telling us that there is a growing youth mental heath crisis,” said Senator Williams. “Safe2Say reports let us know that bullying, suicide, and self-harm are three of the biggest problems facing our students right now, and it’s time for the General Assembly to take action to address these. We’ve talked about how the pandemic has caused a mental health crisis in our students for over two years—it’s long past time we start taking action to fund the services that can provide immediate assistance to those students.”
September 9, 2021
HARRISBURG – September 9, 2021 – Regional organizations aimed at reducing community violence and drug abuse have been awarded more than $2.6 million in state grants, with more help on the way, state Sen. Jim Brewster announced today.
“These grants represent an installment on a long-term commitment to help groups in our communities continue their valuable work and to find new approaches and ideas to help residents feel safer in their communities,” Brewster said. “There will be more help available by the end of the year, and I urge organizations to begin the process of securing financing in this next round.”
Brewster, who fought for additional funding in the most recent state budget for anti-violence efforts, said applications for that new funding are now being accepted by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). To find out more on how to apply, click here.
Interested applicants can access application resources through PCCD’s Gun Violence webpage under the “Grants & Funding” tab. PCCD is utilizing a single online survey form (via SurveyMonkey) for the initial funding request application. An informational webinar will also be hosted on September 14, at 11 a.m. for interested applicants.
The window to apply is open now through Friday, October 15, 2021. Awards will be announced at the December 1, 2021 School Safety and Security Committee meeting, with projects slated to begin January 1, 2022.
The following organizations have been awarded funding through PCCD programs:
- Brothers and Sisters Emerging – Community Programs – $150,000 Awarded through the JJDPC State Violence and Delinquency Prevention Program Funds
- Three Rivers Youth Inc. – LifeSkills Training Planning Project – $100,000 Awarded through the JJDPC Federal State Opioid Response (SOR) Funds
- Allegheny County Chief Executive Officer – Allegheny County Jail MAT Methadone Program – $150,000 Awarded through the CJAC Opioid Response Funds
- Allegheny County Chief Executive Officer – Latent Prints Continuous Improvement Project – $9,853 Awarded through the CJAC Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Funds
- Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner – Firearms Examination Initiative – $224,945 Awarded through the Gun Violence Reduction Grant Program
- Allegheny Intermediate Unit – School- based and Community Outreach Program – $225,000 Awarded through the Gun Violence Reduction Grant Program
- Center for Victims – Family and Community Support Team Funding – $225,000 Awarded through the Gun Violence Reduction Grant Program
- Community Empowerment Association, Inc. – Gun Violence Prevention and Community-based Outreach Efforts – $225,000 Awarded through the Gun Violence Reduction Grant Program
- Greater Valley Community Services – Violence Prevention in Braddock and Surrounding Areas – $200,000 Awarded through the Gun Violence Reduction Grant Program
- Healthy Village Learning Institute – Proactive Prevention and Intervention Processes through the P.O.W.E.R. (Positive Outcomes With Excuses Removed) Prevention Program – $211,680 Awarded through the Gun Violence Reduction Grant Program
- South Pittsburgh Coalition for Peace – Peacemakers Street Outreach Intervention Initiative – $220,000 Awarded through the Gun Violence Reduction Grant Program
- The Center that CARES – Enhancing the REACH Initiative Prevention Program – $220,000 Awarded through the Gun Violence Reduction Grant Program
- Voices Against Violence – Programing for Street Mediation, Conflict Resolution, and Restorative Justice Practices – $177,000 Awarded through the Gun Violence Reduction Grant Program
- Legacy Arts Project – Drums Not Guns Youth Art Apprenticeship Program – $205,750 Awarded through the Gun Violence Reduction Grant Program
- Allegheny County Chief Executive Officer – Decreasing Gun Violence through the CURE Model – $71,388 Awarded through the CJAC Gun Violence Reduction Funds
- City of McKeesport – McKeesport Gun Violence Reduction Project – $50,500 Awarded through the CJAC Gun Violence Reduction Funds
February 26, 2020
Harrisburg – February 26, 2020 – State Sen. Jim Brewster today said that $1.7 million in state school safety grants will soon be distributed to local schools.
Brewster, who represents portions of Allegheny and Westmoreland counties, serves as a member of the School Safety and Security Committee. He has been the General Assembly’s foremost advocate for addressing school safety issues. The funds were approved by the committee at its meeting today.
“These grants are critical tools that can be used to protect students, teachers, administrators and visitors to school facilities,” Brewster said. “As a member of the committee that approves these grants, I am keenly aware of the needs of area schools and committed to helping improve security.”
Brewster said that he would continue to work to adjust competitive grant criteria so that more school districts can access maximum funding.
The following school districts in Brewster’s area will receive competitive and meritorious school grants:
Allegheny County:
- Baldwin-Whitehall School District $45,000
- Brentwood School District $35,000
- Clairton School District $30,000
- Duquesne School District $30,000
- East Allegheny School District $481,508
- Elizabeth Forward School District $40,000
- Gateway School District $40,000
- McKeesport Area School District $45,000
- Plum Borough School District $40,000
- South Allegheny School District $455,000
- West Allegheny School District $40,000
- West Mifflin Area School District $40,000
Westmoreland County:
- Burrell School District $35,000
- Kiski Area School District $40,000
- New Kensington-Arnold School District $35,000
- Penn-Trafford School District $45,000
- Westmoreland IU7 $239,000
Brewster has been a strong and vocal advocate of improving security at school facilities. He has sponsored a package of bills to enhance safety in schools. The legislation includes: the development of a school safety commission, requiring school safety upgrades to be part of approved school construction and rehabilitation projects, and armed guards in school building.
In addition, last August the school safety committee approved Brewster’s request to create a subcommittee to explore the development of baseline safety and security standards that could be universally applied to all school districts.
“We must keep providing grant funds to pay for safety upgrades to schools,” Brewster said. “Our children deserve a safe and secure environment that is conducive to education.”
The School Safety and Security Committee was established in 2018. The grants are administered through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.
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September 13, 2019
McKeesport, September 13, 2019 – State Sen. Jim Brewster today announced a total of $811,844 in state funds for four local crime reduction and victim services programs.
“I am committed to using state resources to strengthen local efforts to curb gun violence and help those who are victimized by crime,” Brewster said.
Brewster said the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency this week approved the following grants:
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June 12, 2019
Harrisburg – June 12, 2019 – Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) announced today that the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) has awarded funding to various organizations and programs in the region to help victims of crime, domestic violence and substance abuse.
“The funding is earmarked for programs to help those struggling in local communities,” Brewster said. “From substance abuse issues to assisting crime victims, victims of domestic violence and mental health treatment, the funding will serve many in need.”
Funding that was approved and awarded by PCCD include:
- $220,130 in Residential Substance Abuse and Treatment Funds for Project Safe Neighbors (PSN) in Allegheny County;
- $818,781 in Substance Abuse Education and Demand Reduction Funds for the University of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County;
- $290,757 in competitive grant funding and $556,150 funding increase through Victims Crime Act Funding for Alle-Kiski Area Hope Center in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties;
- $928,405 Victims Crime Act Funding Increase for the Center for Victims in Allegheny County;
- $670,721 in 2019-2021 Victims Crime Act Funding Increase for the Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh in Allegheny County;
- $125,131 in 2019-2021 Victims Crime Act Funding Increase for the Westmoreland County Commissioners; and
- $98,278 in Endowment Act – Programs Assisting Victims funding for UPMC-Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County.
“Reducing substance abuse and helping victims of crime are priorities that will be greatly supported and improved with this funding,” said Brewster. “There is always more that can be done, more programs that will be created to assist those who need it, and funding awards like these are how we ensure help is available in our communities.”
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March 14, 2019
Harrisburg – March 13, 2019 – State Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) said that the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) has approved funding for numerous programs to aid victims in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties.
“The funding is critical for important programs to address those impacted by crime,” Brewster said. “The dollars will help fund outreach activities, training, improved communications, advocacy and those impacted by crime.”
Brewster said a total of nearly $6 million was approved for a wide range of programs in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties. The funding is available through the Victims of Crime Act and includes both non-competitive and competitive grants. Among others, the grant recipients include:
- Alle-Kiski Area Hope Center $225,430
- Center for Victims $571,538
- Court Appointed Special Advocates of Allegheny County $2,159
- Neighborhood Legal Services $244,803
- Womens Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh $511,251
- Center for Victims $1,265,361
- Casa of Westmoreland Inc. $173,174
PCCD supports justice-related programs with a focus on research, police and support services. The approved funding support programs that serve individuals countywide.
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November 1, 2018
McKeesport – Oct. 30, 2018 – Sen. Jim Brewster (D- Allegheny/Westmoreland) announced today that $450,000 in School Safety and Security grants were awarded to various school districts in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties. The grant funding was authorized by the School Safety and Security Committee within the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.
“Pushing resources out to schools quickly was one of the top priorities of the School Safety and Security Committee,” Brewster said. “Districts can use the funds to help protect students and make our school buildings safer and more secure.”
Brewster is a member of the School Safety and Security Committee. He was appointed earlier this year.
Local school districts that received the $25,000 grant allocation include:
- Baldwin-Whitehall School District (Allegheny County)
- Brentwood Borough School District (Allegheny County)
- Clairton City School District (Allegheny County)
- Duquesne City School District (Allegheny County)
- East Allegheny School District (Allegheny County)
- Elizabeth Forward School District (Allegheny County)
- Gateway School District (Allegheny County)
- McKeesport Area School District (Allegheny County)
- Plum Borough School District (Allegheny County)
- South Allegheny School District (Allegheny County)
- West Mifflin Area School District (Allegheny County)
- Woodland Hills School District (Allegheny County)
- West Jefferson School District (Allegheny County)
- Burrell School District (Westmoreland County)
- Kiski Area School District (Westmoreland County)
- New Kensington-Arnold School District (Westmoreland County)
- Leechburg Area School District (Westmoreland County)
- Penn-Trafford Area School District (Westmoreland County)
Gov. Tom Wolf signed Act 44 into law in June of 2018 which established the School Safety and Security Committee. The committee was charged with developing criteria for school safety and security assessments along with issues surveys to measure their safety and security preparedness. It also administers grants to schools to improve safety and security.
There was a total of $52.5 million allocated to the School Safety and Security Grant Program for the 2018-2019 fiscal year.
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