Catholic Charities Executive Testifies Before House Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science

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Apr 14, 2010, 08:45 ET

ALEXANDRIA, Va., April 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Greg Kepferle, CEO of Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County, CA, in House testimony today, called on Congress to maintain and increase funding for juvenile justice programs with a priority on funding for early prevention and intervention and funding for proven alternatives to incarceration.

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"One dollar a year invested in community-based prevention and intervention and alternative services saves taxpayers $200 a year," Kepferle said. "A year in a state juvenile detention facility in California costs over $252,000 per youth vs. only $1,271 per youth for community-based prevention and intervention services. We can't abandon our youth to the hard-life of the streets or the jails. . .it costs too much in human lives and in real dollars."

Catholic Charities USA agencies serve close to 135,000 youth per year in juvenile justice programs in close to 65 different locations nationwide. Locally, its continuum of prevention and intervention programs have a very high success rate. The country can ill-afford to reduce or eliminate the critical work of youth centers and juvenile justice programs and counseling.

"It's imperative to reduce the bureaucratic barriers to funding and services for faith-based and community organizations," Kepferle continued. "We need to remember these young men and women are persons, human beings worthy of dignity and respect and compassion. . .with enormous potential for good in our community. Together we can change their lives for good."

Catholic Charities USA's members -- more than 1,700 local Catholic Charities agencies and institutions nationwide -- provide help and create hope for nearly 9 million people a year regardless of religious, social, or economic backgrounds. For almost 300 years, Catholic Charities agencies have worked to reduce poverty by providing a myriad of vital services in their communities, ranging from health care and job training to food and housing. In 2010, Catholic Charities USA celebrates its centennial anniversary. For more information, visit www.CatholicCharitiesUSA.org.

SOURCE Catholic Charities USA