RECENT STORIES

Arvada grad commissioned as a second lieutenant ( Army & Air Force Hometown News )
"A Streetcar Named Desire" Aug 22 - Sept 21 ( Gloria Shanstrom )
Disney's High School Musical in Arvada! ( Arvada Center )
Police blotter: Neighbors complain about loud porn ( YourHub.com )
Fencing Summer Nationals - local results ( Margaret Matanovich )

share a story | more postings »

YourHub.com \\ Arvada \\ Stories \\ Ask Dot \\ Government

Helping youth stay in school

e-mail to a friend | print this | link to this

Contributed by: Cindy Kirby on 2/28/2008

REP. BENEFIELD HELPS YOUTH STAY HEALTHY AND STAY IN SCHOOL
PTA Leader Continues to be Champion for Youth

DENVER - Rep. Debbie Benefield (D-Arvada/Westminster) is the sponsor of two separate bills to help Colorado's youth. Both are on their way to the Senate after supportive votes in the House. One will help youth stay in school and out of trouble. The other will promote wellness programs in public schools.

The long-standing and successful program Tony Grampsas Youth Services (TGYS) funds a wide variety of community initiatives that have decreased rates of abuse and crime and kept kids in school. Current law diverts time and energy from the program goals by increasing administrative burdens. Rep. Benefield has proposed removing the barriers to allow the program to thrive while reaching more youth. House Bill 08-1122 helps to ensure that time and attention are devoted to preventing youth violence and promoting learning.

"It is important that every dollar going to the program actually reaches the youth in need. Every dollar we invest in the program helps decrease school drop-out rates and prevent crime by supporting youth mentoring and after school programs," Rep. Benefield said. "If kids are staying in school, we know that crime rates are reduced."

The second bill, House Bill 08-1224,will help promote wellness in public schools by emphasizing healthy choices and lifestyles, physical education, nutrition, mental health counseling, healthy school environments and involvement of families and communities.

The bill would also expand funding opportunities for school districts to apply for increased funding from the Colorado Comprehensive Health Education Fund. Rep. Benefield asked, "Who can argue with combating obesity and encouraging kids to eat right and exercise?"

[Report this as objectionable content.]

SUBMIT COMMENT

Rate the above story

Talk Back : submit comments to the story

*Note: you need to log-in to add a comment or rating.

Thank you! Your comment has been updated.

CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Cindy Kirby

Arvada , CO

Cindy Kirby has posted 42 stories and 0 comments since joining on 8/31/2006. Cindy Kirby 's average story rating is 5.

view profile » view other postings from Cindy Kirby »

SAVE AND SHARE THIS STORY

digg	Google
del.icio.us	Yahoo!
reddit	Newsvine

What is this?

STORY RSS FEEDS

All stories

All stories in Arvada

All stories by Cindy Kirby

WANT TO WRITE FOR YOURHUB.COM?

Want to see the stories you write and the photos you shoot featured in the YourHub.com Thursday print section available all over the Front Range and with home subscriptions of the Rocky Mountain News and The Denver Post? All you have to do is register, then post a story or column, start a blog or tell everyone what events are happening in town. We will print the best stories, columns, event listings, photos and blog entries in our print sections.

Loading Ad