CF Industries recently pledged their support to a number of youth programs geared towards education, career readiness and community-minded initiatives.
Thanks to CF Industries, a donation of $12,561 was provided to the Yazoo County Youth Empowered to Succeed (YES) and the Yazoo County Juvenile Intervention Court (JIC). The donation will also provide Yazoo County with an official GED testing site.
Youth Court and County Judge Betsy Cotton approached the local industry to see what the two parties could do to promote and support these vital programs within the community.
“In Youth Court, I hear matters involving abuse, neglect, juvenile delinquency and more,” Cotton said. “During these proceedings, in order to make a decision which is in the best interest of the kids, I learn a great deal about them. Over the years, I have seen too many kids come through my court with a history of drug use and with a history of being behind in school.”
With so many children falling behind with their education and with an increased amount of drug usage, Cotton said she wanted to implement two new programs designed to assist those children for their future.
“I wanted to do whatever I could to help these kids and get them back on the right track,” Cotton said.
The JIC program focuses on children who have issues related to drug and alcohol use. Upon their arrival to Cotton’s court, if the child has tested positive for drug use, they may enter the program. The program was approved by the Mississippi Supreme Court and began in August 2020.
“Once the program was established, I began ordering kids into the program around September 2020,” Cotton said. “As of today, I now have 19 kids in the program from ages 12-18. I anticipate I will have 20-25 in the program by this fall.”
The YES program allows 17-year-old juveniles (and some 16-year-olds) who are not enrolled in school to participate in the program for up to two years to pursue their education, college and career goals.
“Many of these kids are behind in school, which leads them to act out and fall further behind,” Cotton said. “No kids are ordered into this program who have committed any violent offenses, so my staff and the other students are safe. While in the program, we help prepare them to take all sections of the GED. In addition, we focus some of their time on career goals.”
With the help of the career service manager, children are guided based on their interests, strengths, and weaknesses to find a career path suited for them. They are prepared and required to take the National Career Readiness Credential Exam, which shows prospective employers that they can be valuable and strong employees for their business. There is also the possibility of college scholarships and internships.
“I wanted to start this program to make a difference in the lives of the kids here who would not otherwise have someone on their side, mentoring them and pushing them to succeed,” Cotton said. “This program began in July 2020, and our first students began in August 2020. We have had about 10 kids in the program so far and are adding more. We have three who have already obtained their Bronze level National Career Readiness Credential, one who has obtained his Silver level National Career Readiness Credential, and three who have completed their GED.”
These programs come at no cost to Yazoo County. The JIC is funded by grants from the Mississippi Supreme Court Administrative Office of Courts and the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. The YES program is funded by the Central Mississippi Planning and Development District through federal subaward funds from the Work Opportunity Initiative Act. Because both programs are funded by grant funds, the budgets do not allow for many "extras" for the children.
“We count on donations from individuals and businesses to provide those for the kids,” Cotton added.
There has been a strong support system for the two programs. And the recent donation from CF Industries adds to that list.
“We were very interested in supporting these programs,” said Claudio Nascimento, general manager of CF Industries. “We thank Judge Cotton for approaching us, giving our team the opportunity to once more help our great community.”
The donation from CF Industries to JIC will provide some of those extras for the children. The majority of the donation to the YES program will be used to purchase new computers, software, desks, tables and other things necessary for the YES facility to be certified as an independent GED testing facility for the participants. The participants do not have transportation which makes it more difficult to schedule them for the GED testing since it is conducted in Ridgeland. Having an independent GED testing site will illuminate that barrier to the success of these young people.
