A peer-to-peer discipline program that helps students stay in school and provides alternatives to suspension and expulsion is the recipient for a $5,000 grant from the Learning by Giving class at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.
The grant will help the In-School Youth Court strengthen and expand an innovative program for programs that aims to address underlying causes of behavior issues and prevent future incidents. Cases are heard by a volunteer jury of the offender's peers who also assign disciplinary consequences. Local attorneys volunteer to serve as judges in the cases. Currently 12 Central Indiana schools have adopted the program, which provides an alternative to suspension and expulsion. Reach for Youth plans to expand to two additional schools by 2017.
In the hands-on "Learning by Giving" course, students learn the process of giving wisely and making grants, from deciding which community issues to address and writing requests for proposals to conducting site visits, evaluating applications and deciding where to give grant award money. Grant funds are provided by the Learning by Giving Foundation founded by Doris Buffett, sister of Warren Buffett.
The current class set as a priority programs that have contribute to academic success, healthy lifestyles and community engagement through the advancement of out-of-school programs that supplement or contribute to academic activities. Eleven local nonprofits competed for the grant.
About the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
The Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy is dedicated to improving philanthropy to improve the world by training and empowering students and professionals to be innovators and leaders who create positive and lasting change. The school offers a comprehensive approach to philanthropy through its academic, research and international programs and through The Fund Raising School, Lake Institute on Faith & Giving, and the Women's Philanthropy Institute. Follow us on Twitter @IUPhilanthropy or "Like" us on Facebook.