The City of Las Cruces will expand youth services in the Mesquite Historic District with the creation of a youth campus. The new campus will consist of the Fielder Memorial Safe Haven, which currently houses the Weed & Seed program, and will expand to include the Juvenile Citation Program (JCP) and the Afterschool Program in the adjacent, City-owned Mesquite Learning Center building, 890 Tornillo St.
The JCP, currently housed at the old City Hall, 200 N. Church St., will relocate to the Mesquite Learning Center building in the coming weeks. The move will allow staff time to assess youth to determine needed levels of education programs prior to formally vacating the old City Hall by July 1.
“This is tremendous opportunity for the City of Las Cruces to increase much needed outreach opportunities for youth in the Mesquite neighborhood,” said City Manager Robert Garza. “By creating a youth campus, we can physically co-locate three of the City’s most successful services; Weed & Seed, Afterschool Program, and Juvenile Citation Program. Having them in close proximity to each other will maximize staff efficiencies, youth participation and physical building space.”
The City’s 15-year-old Weed & Seed program attempts to weed out violent crime, gang activity, and drug use and trafficking in target areas, and then seed the area by restoring the neighborhood through social and economic revitalization.
The Juvenile Citation Program (JCP) serves all of Doña Ana County and accommodates clients in English and Spanish. It is an alternative program for youth offenders who commit a misdemeanor, petty misdemeanor, or status offense. The citation is screened by a juvenile probation officer, and a referral is made to the JCP when it is determined that the youth is appropriate for services. The program provides youth an immediate consequence to their offense and diverts them from the formal juvenile justice system and further provides critical mentoring services. Outreach includes volunteering at food banks, the cleanup of the pauper cemetery, and community gardening projects. The JCP is grant-funded by the State of New Mexico's Children Youth & Families Department, along with matching funds from the City of Las Cruces. There is no fee to participate.
The Afterschool Program was designed to provide an affordable, quality after school program for children during the regular school year. The program helps children develop their academic, physical, and social skills in a safe and caring environment. The three major components of the program are educational, nutritional, and recreational, with all three given the same importance. The program runs concurrent with the Las Cruces Public School calendar and serves more than 300 school-aged children. This boasts a 15-1 ratio and the City provides staff that is professional, motivated, and multicultural role models for the children.
Information from city of Las Cruces