$50K Funding For Worcester's Juvenile Diversion Program: DA's Office

WORCESTER, MA - The Worcester County District Attorney's Office received a $50,000 grant to expand its youth diversion program to residents of Southbridge and Fitchburg, District Attorney Joseph D. Early announced Wednesday.

The grant will let the office expand the Early Diversion Worcester (EDW) program to continue diverting vulnerable adolescents ages 12 to 18 who might otherwise enter the criminal justice system due to the impact of school suspensions.

"By reaching kids early, we can work to adapt and modify behavior, while hopefully preventing a lifetime of involvement with the criminal justice system," Early said. "This is crime prevention at its best."

The current EDW has enrolled and screened 60 young people since its full implementation in February 2024. This injection of funding will go into improving outcomes for adolescents through community-based organizations that offer essential services.

The program's pre-arrest diversion model gives recovery-oriented and equity-based health services to younger people. These services will be provided at the Choices program center in Worcester.

The DA's office estimates between 20 and 25 youths will be helped through the duration of the grant.