G.R.A.S.P. (Girls Re-entry Assistance Support Project)

GRASP is a faith-based initiative established by the Kings County District Attorney’s Office, in partnership with the Office of Children and Family Services. The program matches mentors from Brooklyn congregations with young women, in addition to providing a wide-array of social services from professional case managers and other supportive services.

The mentors work in a team of 2-3 persons from a particular congregation. The mentoring team is matched with one teenager, and one mentor from the team will meet with this youth at least 1-3 times per week.

Each girl is ages 13-18, and is returning from placement or correctional facilities throughout New York State to Brooklyn or Staten Island. Each girl enrolled in the program has been convicted of a crime, but does not have “a pattern of violent felony offenses or major psychiatric illnesses.”

Volunteers will receive 8 hours of training on their roles as mentors, modeled on the Big Brothers Big Sisters’ mentoring training program. Also, volunteers must complete a registration form with personal background information, references, etc., a State Central Register screening form, a comprehensive interview, and fingerprinting.

If you might be interested in mentoring through the GRASP program, please speak with Sandhya Reju, Community Ministries Team Coordinator--, (718) 250-3804-- who will try to help congregation members organize into potential mentoring teams of 2-3 persons.

Contact: Deborah Lashley, Executive Assistant District Attorney, Juvenile Crimes Bureau
E-mail:

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