By Ray King
The Pine Bluff City Council on Monday approved a resolution authorizing Mayor Vivian Flowers to execute a memorandum of understanding with the Ambassadors for Christ Youth Ministries, Inc. to provide services to at-risk youth between the ages of 16 and 21.
According to the resolution, those services will include housing, supportive services and long-term transitional planning.
Council Member Lanette Frazier said she was familiar with the group and had worked with them in the past.
According to a letter from Sherrie Sams, the Executive Director of Ambassadors for Christ Youth Ministries, Inc., the organization began providing services in Pine Bluff in 2016 and since then, has provided services to 122 young adults (69 females and 53 males) ages 18-21, who have taken residence in our Transitional Living Program Homes.
The most recent data showed that 77 percent (92) of those young people are currently living in stable housing, working and paying their own bills. Ninety-one-point four percent (111) of the participants earned a workforce or educational certificate that helped them either gain employment or pursue further training and 66 percent (81) of the participants were successfully reunited with a parent, guardian or another supportive adult.
Also on Monday, three resolutions reallocating or transferring money within city departments were approved.
Previously, those transfers or reallocations were done by budget adjustments but that procedure changed when Mayor Flowers took office.
Council Member Bruce Lockett explained why the change was made.
One of those resolutions dealt with the Police Department and Animal Control, a second with Transit and the third with the Street Department.
