Macon, GA – June 12, 2023 – During the Changing the Face of Justice Day celebration, Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney Anita Howard announced that her innovative R.I.S.E. Initiative (Restoring Inspiration by Success in Education) has received a Congressional grant of $240,000.
“It is such a privilege to celebrate the opening of our new satellite offices with the announcement of this incredible federal grant,” said Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney Anita Howard. “Special thanks to Congressman Sanford Bishop for his support of this Initiative. His commitment to fostering safe and healthy communities is going to help make the Macon Judicial Circuit a safer place to live.”
DA Howard knows that prosecution alone cannot create a crime free community. As the top law enforcement officer in the Circuit, her vision for the Office is to promote public safety by providing groundbreaking and proactive solutions to address violent crime and the trauma it creates.
The R.I.S.E. Initiative addresses untreated trauma in our youth by identifying adverse childhood experiences that increase the risk of criminality. R.I.S.E. focuses on the concise and targeted delivery of critical social services to children 17 and under who have suffered emotional and physical trauma due to violent crime. Service providers conduct trauma, criminogenic, and mental health assessments for referred children to determine their individual needs. A panel of community, civic and mental health professionals evaluate the information and set a course of action for the success of each child. The R.I.S.E. providers are able to bring their services at no cost to the children and their families because of grant funding such as the one we have received from Congressman’s Bishop’s support.
“Congressman Bishop’s Office reached out and encouraged us to apply for this grant after learning about the R.I.S.E. Initiative and the benefits it has in reducing crime,” said DA Howard. “Everyone has heard the saying that ‘All politics are local.’ This grant is a product of state and federal partners working together for the benefit of our local community.” The new grant will assist Howard in her plans to expand the services R.I.S.E. offers to area children in all three Counties of her Circuit by offsetting the costs of assessments, cognitive therapy, behavioral therapy, medications, transportation and mentoring.
We are looking for community members who can relate to and invest in children participating in the R.I.S.E. Initiative. Please visit www.MaconJudicialCircuitDA.com to learn more.
