State lawmakers announce grants to strengthen Berks County

State lawmakers Reps. Tom Caltagirone, Mark Rozzi and Sen. Judy Schwank announced state grants from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency have been approved for two programs in Berks County.

“These grants will bring state money back to our community, providing the money needed to provide assistance at the local level,” Caltagirone said.

The grants approved for Berks County include:

• The Council on Chemical Abuse in partnership with Kutztown Strong has been approved for a $118,923 grant through the state’s Violence and Delinquency Prevention Program to implement a Strengthening Families Program in Kutztown Area School District. Sessions in the program concentrate on skills building as well as addressing drug use, antisocial behavior and poor family management.
• The Berks County Commissioners have been approved for a $20,000 grant through the Capital Case for Indigent Defense Program to assist with the expense of a mitigation specialist to support the defense of a qualifying pending capital case.

“One of the grants announced today is an investment in our community’s most valuable resource: our children,” Rozzi said. “The funds approved today will allow for the implementation of the Strengthening Families Program, providing help for 40 families in Berks County by addressing real issues that can be difficult to talk about.”

“I was an early and active supporter of the Kutztown Strong movement when school and local leaders banded together to address the prevalence of drugs and addiction in their community,” Schwank said. “They have been successful in meeting this problem head-on. I applaud their work and am pleased that this grant will further support their efforts.”