Youth Justice Community Reinvestment Fund 

Presented by Civic Heart Community ServicesThe Intermediary Team 

Represented by Dr. Sujeeta E. Menon 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Civic Heart Community Services 

1. Community-based social service organization located in the Third ward, Houston, TX. 

2. Over thirty-four years of working with marginalized and disadvantaged communities. 

3. Holistic approach with a range of programs and services, including: Housing, HIV Outreach, 

prevention, Teen pregnancy prevention, Substance misuse prevention, Access to Health Care 

Coverage, Self-sufficiency employment, Youth Justice programs, Mentoring, and the 

Northern Third Ward Implementation project 

4. In 59 Counties throughout Texas 

5. Diverse workforce with over 75 employees in 25 programs 

6. History of capacity building programs with small grassroots organizations 

7. History of providing culturally and trauma informed programs 
 

 

 

 

Background and Goals 

Partnership between Harris County Office of Justice and Safety (OJS) & 

Harris County Juvenile Probation Department (HCJPD) 

1. Identify best investments to address racial and ethnic disparities and 

reduce Disproportionate Minority Contact in the Juvenile Justice system 

2. Designed to enhance and promote community-based programming 

3. Reduce juvenile justice involvement for youth 

4. Culturally responsive prevention and intervention services 

5. Direct investments in home grown, grassroots community-based 

organizations 
 

 

 

 

Youth Reinvestment Fund History 

The Youth Reinvestment Fund (2 million per year) presented by the Harris 

County Office of Justice and Safety and Juvenile Probation Department 

was unanimously approved by Commissioners Court in February of 2021. 

 In April 2022, the Commissioners Court unanimously approved Civic 

Heart to be the Intermediary/ Backbone organization for this project from 

2022 to 2024. 

The Reinvestment Fund was created to create community supports and 

programs in neighborhoods impacted by juvenile justice referrals 
 

 

 

Intermediary Organization & Functions 

 Engage directly with impacted communities 

 Develop and distribute RFP, Call for proposals and select grantee organizations 

 Administer grants 

 Support grantee organizations – training, coaching, building infrastructure 

 Reporting on grants – program performance and financial reports 

 Point-of-contact for problem solving, resolving conflicts, responding to 

complaints 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 5th, 2022 Press Conference 

June- July 2022 

July-October, 2022 

July to September 2022 

August, 2022 

Community needs Gap analysis 

Request for Proposal released on Civic Heart website 

Contacting organizations on hot spots list 

Presentations at various community and stakeholder locations and meetings. (e.g., Youth Violence Prevention Coalition, Youth Justice Council, 

Criminal Justice and Safety Health, VOICES Youth Advisory Council, JDAI collaborative, Pure Justice, Violence Prevention Conference, United Way 

interagency meeting, Community Engagement Advocacy Board Good Lives Outcome meeting. 

Pre-orientation webinar for prospective applicants. 

September, 2022 

September – October, 2022 

November 15, 2022 

Dec 5, 2022 

December 16, 2022 

An advertisement in local newspapers 

Email marketing to the Civic Heart mailing-list 

Presentations at various community stakeholder locations and meetings (e.g., Northern Third Ward Neighborhood Steering Committee, Youth 

advisory boards, personal phone calls) 

Second round webinar for information regarding the RFP. 

Sixty-six applications were received for consideration. 

Phase 1 selection: Review applications 

Phase 1: Initial shortlist 

Phase 2 interviews 

Decision on 1st round of funding made. Email was sent to all applicants on the selection and the commencement of the 2nd round of funding 

December 27, 2022 Civic Heart Website included the information about the selected grantees and the commencement of the 2nd round of funding. 

Jan 2, 2023 

Feb 1, 2023 

January to March 2023 

March 20, 2023 

May 25, 2023 

June 1, 2023 

MOU executed with 2 organizations and start-up funds provided for 1st round of funding 

2nd round of funding search 

2nd round of funding selection meeting 

3 organizations signed MOU’s 

Grantee orientation from 9.15-4pm 

1 organization signed MOU 

Start-up phase for Grantee Selection 
 

 

 

 

 

Community Needs GAP analysis 

1) Identify the “hot spots” in Harris 

County with the highest number 

of referrals 

2) Visit the location ( red and 

orange areas) through 

community visits, phone calls, 

emails, websites and google 

maps 

3) Identify the social services 

located in these Hot spot areas 

and review the services provided 
77449 

Name Address Information Group Service 

Contact Age Type of 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other adult 

of family 

services 

provided Other comments (would include uniqueness of the area, strengths/weaknesses etc.) 

3239 Randy For Preschool age 4 and up and Kindergarten Bible club summer reading, 

1.) Neighborhood Ln. Katy, Tx facilitate backpack and school supplies distrubution (Kindergarten only) 

Kidz Club 77449 713.826.2881 N/A N/A N/A Facilitate Christmas Gift Distribution 

1450 E 

Summitry 

2. Pregnancy Help Circle katy 

Center 77449 281.578.0078 N/A N/A N/A 

Pro-Life group. Free pregnancy tests. Ultrasounds upon nurse’s discretion. 

Emotional support, education on development and abortion procedures, postabortion and adoption counseling, maternity and infant clothing and supplies. 

Scholarships for higher education for qualified clients. Referral for community 

services. Mon 9:00am3:00pm, Tues 12:00pm-7:00pm, Weds 9:00am-3:00pm, 

Thurs 9:00am-11:00am. 

Non-profit Christian service organization providing counseling.. Emphasis on 3.) Interface- 1359 N. family and adolescent issues, particularly family, couples, eating, trauma, 

Samaritan CounselingMason Rd. abuse, anger management. Staffed by licensed psychotherapist. Mon-Fri, 

Center Katy 77449 713.626.7990 N/A N/A N/A 9am-7pm. Sliding scale – eligible for insurance. 

Partial financial assistance, food pantry, resale shop, crisis center for 

counseling and emergency services. MonThurs 9:00am-4:00pm (closed 12- 4.) Domestic Abuse 12:30pm). Serves 77449, 77450, 77493, 77494, 77094, 77084, 77485, 

Hotline N/A 281.391.4357 N/A N/A N/A 77464, 77441, 77406, 77476. 

5.) Motown Monday Email sdibianca@siloamwellness.org to get more info 

Yoga via zoom 215.765.6633 N/A N/A N/A 
 

 

 

 

77396 

NAME ADDRESS Contact information Age of Youth Targeted Type of Youth Services 

Other adult Family 

Services provided 

Other comments 

(would include 

uniqueness of the 

area, 

strengths/weaknesses 

etc.) 

Birthright Humble 

1502 1st E Humble Tx 

77396 281-540-1123 

Open to all age 

groups Pregnancy services Pregnancy services Teen Pregnancy 

Once Upon a Child 

9771 Fm 1960 

Humble TX 77396 832-644-8765 N/A 

Buying and selling of 

youth clothes and 

toys N/A Clothing and Toys 

Youth Be Known 832-416-4064 N/A 

Pregnancy, Teen Mom 

, Clothing, Mentoring Foster care support 

Foster care, mentor, 

clothing 

Prison Youth 

Ministries 

1220 S Houston 

Humble Tx 77338 281-406-7558 N/A 

Community, Food, 

Clothing Drive Faiith Based ReEntry, Counseling, 

Kind Girls Mentoring 

Program 

2900 Atoscocita Rd 

Humble TX 77396 832-647-6005 12 to 18 

Finanial Literacy, Time 

Management, College 

Career Readiness, N/A Mentoring program 
 

 

 

 

Outcome of the Community Gap Analysis 

Priority Areas 

◦ 77004 1) The community needs analysis revealed there was a dearth of services with a high 

◦ 77026 level of need in the Hot Spots areas. 

◦ 77036 

◦ 77067 

2) The identified high priority zip codes were included in the Request for Proposals. ◦ 77084 

◦ 77090 

◦ 77338 

◦ 77373 

◦ 77396 

◦ 77449 
 

 

Criteria and awards 

Estimated awards: 

4-6 Organizations 

Range of $212,500 - $318,750 a year 

2 years (pending availability of funds) 

Youth and family serving organizations that

serve youth 5-18 years of age at risk: 

Examples (not limited to): 

•Living below 200% of FPL 

•Youth involved in the justice system 

•Victims of child abuse/neglect, domestic violence 

•Lack of parental support 

•Youth who are experiencing homelessness 

•Mental or behavioral health services need 

•Youth in need of supervision 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selection of Organizations 

• CHCS engaged in gap analysis to 

identify areas with high referrals and 

less services 

• Used HCJPD data to pinpoint areas 

with the highest needs on an ongoing 

basis 

• Looked at programs that could support 

youth in the community 

• Willingness to work with justice-involved 

youth with importance given to family 

engagement and youth voice 

• Convened a selection committee of 12 

members from the community, HCJPD, 

and CHCS for initial application review 

(66 applications) and 10 interviews. 3 

organizations were selected. 

• Engaged in 2nd round of funding. 2nd round 

included ground visits to the impacted areas to 

locate organizations doing this work and 

through recommendations to identify 10 

organizations for selection by HCJPD, OJS and 

CHCS. 3 organizations were selected. 

44 
Selected Grantee Organizations 

The Forgotten Third, 

Bear Creek/Katy 

Workshop Houston, 

Third Ward 

Talent Yield Coalition, 

Baytown, Crosby, Channelview and Sheldon 

My Chapel, 

Pasadena 

45 
Selected Grantee Organizations 

Young People in Action, 

Spring, Cypress, Humble, Atascocita 

Legends and Legacies 

Houston 

(Alief, Aldine and Northforest) 

Ancillary Grantee: 

Houston Revision 

Youth Advisory Board and Sunny Day Fund 

46 
Grantee Information Map 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Start up activities Post-Award 

•Developed and signed MOUs with Grantees 

• Financial orientation, accounting practices 

•Background Checks, Program descriptors and JIMS2 trainings with HCJPD 

•Provided in kind items such as tables, chairs, whiteboard, cd players to the Grantees 

•Weekly meetings with HCJPD and OJS- Funders 

•Reviewed multiple case management software for grantees 

•Hiring 2 capacity building specialists for the program 

Administrative 

•Outcomes and deliverables 

•Lesson plans and curriculum development 

•Developed Grantee orientation handbook and conducted orientation in May 2023 

•Orientation with HCJPD 

•Logic model meetings with Elite Research 

•Recruited community members and conducted the Community Engagement Advisory Board in July 2023 

•Conducted Organizational assessments and pathway plan meetings 

Programmatic 

•Participated in Columbia Justice Lab Youth Justice Initiative in Nov 2022 

•Organized Open House for all Grantees and Probation officers 

•Organized Bus resource tour to the Youth Development Center downtown, Youth Village and a meeting with the HCJPD 

Executive team 

•Created an information sheet for all grantees 

•Networking opportunities and community resources for the grantees 

•Attended Juvenile Board meeting 

•Attended and presented at the Community Advisory Board meetings 

•Reviewed promotional materials used by the Grantees 

Outreach 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CAPACITY BUILDING EFFORTS 

Funding Opportunities Networking and Outreach Trainings Assessments and Tools 

•OJJDP Mentoring grant 

(applied with TFT and 

YPIA as subgrantees) 

•Houston Texans 

($50,000 grant) 

•LISC footlocker 

foundation ($25,000-

$100,000) 

•Precinct 3 resource fair 

nonprofits coffee with 

commissioner 

•Workforce solutions 

youth internship 

program 

•OJJDP newsletter and 

toolkits 

•Northeast Multi-Service 

Center back to school 

health fair 

•Civic Heart Back to 

school event 

•Texas Racial Equity 

Collaborative 

• “A day of caring” 

networking event 

•Civic Heart office 

opening (June 2023) 

•Community of Practice 

included Non-Grantees. 

•Set up Unite US 

trainings 

•United way trainings on 

finding grants and 

fundraising, maximizing 

non-profit resources 

•Harris County Violence 

Prevention Conference 

•Case for Kids Fall 2023 

training calendar 

•JIMS2 training by HCJPD 

•Case staffing meetings 

•Community of Practice 

•Grantee orientation 

•Financial and accounting 

training 

•Conducted 

Organizational 

assessment based on 

Capacity Building tenets 

•Conducted and cocreated pathway plans 

to identify the workplan 

for their grant term. 

•Provided tools and 

templates to Grantees 
Upcoming

trainings 

Sept 12, 2023 Board development and 

fundraising trainings at “A Day 

of Caring” event 

Sept 20-21, 2023 Violence Prevention Conference 

Sept 28, 2023 Writing workshop by Ward 

Causing communications 

Social Media training by Ward 

communications 

October 18, 2023 

October 26, 2023 Communities of Practice 

Nov 2023 Case management training 

Dec 2023 Grant writing training 
 

 

 

 

Recognition 

Reinvestment funds deepens community 

connections to: 

Serve Children at Home, With Their Families, in

Their Communities 

Special thanks to the Harris County Juvenile 

Probation Department, Office of Justice and Safety

and the Commissioners Court for investing in small 

grassroots organizations who play a critical role in

building a true continuum of care and opportunity

for youth and families in their home communities

to both prevent and address the root causes

involvement in the justice system. 
 

 

“...We find ourselves here, in 

community...Others are 

here...Here in front. Beside. 

Behind. Each a passenger; 

Each a captain; doing the 

best we can...Come, let us 

journey together.” 

River Call 

By Manish Mishra 

T 

h 

i 
Questions 
Youth Justice Community

Reinvestment Fund 

CONTACT INFORMATION: 

HELEN STAGG H STAGG@CIVICHEART.ORG 

DR. SUJEETA MENON, S MENON@CIVICHEART.ORG 

WWW.CIVICHEART.ORG 

SEND QUESTIONS TO YOUTHJUSTICEFUNDINFO@CIVICHEART.ORG