Grants announced for CASA, municipal sewer work
MEDIA » CASA Youth Advocates has received a $40,000 grant from the National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association. Funds will be used to support children in Delaware and Chester Counties’ child welfare system through recruitment of CASA volunteers who help them find a safe, permanent home where they can thrive.
CASA Youth Advocates is one of 943 CASA and Guardian ad Litem (GAL) programs with 76,756 volunteers across the country. The program recruits, trains and supports volunteers who ensure that children who have been removed from their parents’ care receive appropriate services and have a voice in determining their futures.
According to research conducted through the National CASA Association, children with a Court Appointed Special Advocate are more likely to be adopted, half as likely to reenter foster care, receive more services while in the system, and perform better in school. Insuring these improved outcomes for all children in Delaware and Chester Counties’ Dependency Courts becomes a matter of scale and resource.
In 2016, National CASA awarded over $4.1 million in federal grants to help CASA/GAL programs recruit needed volunteers.
“We are always so grateful to our supporters at the National CASA who believe that the work we all do is changing lives,” said Anne Shenberger, Executive Director of CASA Youth Advocates.
The federal grant funds, distributed through National CASA, are provided by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), US Department of Justice, as authorized under the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990. They are awarded through a competitive process.
Not only has the Media, PA-based organization received the National CASA grant, but it has also been awarded grants from Judi Marvel Charities and Dircks Family Foundation for volunteer recruitment and aiding the special needs of the children CASA serves that are not covered by other funding sources.
“While it is always wonderful to receive a grant from our national organization, it’s great that the importance of our impact is noticed by smaller foundations and charities. Everything helps,” Shenberger said.
CASA Youth Advocates holds its next volunteer training session on July 31. For information about becoming a volunteer and to fill out an application, visit www.delcocasa.org/volunteer/getting-started
Relining, rehab in Rutledge
HARRISBURG » State Rep. Leanne Krueger-Braneky (D-Delaware) announces Rutledge Borough has been awarded a grant from the Pa. Small Water and Sewer Fund, administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), to reline and rehabilitate sewer lines. The borough will receive $212,500 to rehabilitate a portion of its sewer system.
The funding was released by the Commonwealth Financing Author it y as part of the grant program for water and sewer projects. Rutledge Borough will use its award towards rehabilitating its sanitary sewer system along Linden and Morton avenues, including relining 135 linear feet of 10” pipe, 4,47 1 linear feet of 8” pipe and rehabilitating 56 lateral lines and 15 manholes.
“These awards are important investments in Delaware County ’s inf ra str uc ture,” K rueger-Braneky said. “The funds awarded to Rutledge Borough will go a long way towards rehabilitating part of their sanitary sewer system that has be- gun to crack and see root infiltration.”
“I’m grateful to Representative KruegerBraneky and her of fice for their collaboration securing this much needed investment in Rutledge’s infrastructure,” Rutledge Mayor Kevin Cunningham said. “This is a great example of when people work together, things happen.”
Nether Prov eyes largest sewer line
HARRISBURG » The offices of Sen. Tom Killion (R-9) and Rep. Leanne Krueger-Braneky released an- nouncements that Nether Providence Township has been awarded $147,721 in grant money from the Pa. Small Water and Sewer to help reline the Beatty Run and Creekside Lane sewer lines within the township.
“With the awarding of these funds Nether Providence Township will be better equipped to make the necessar y improvements to these sewer lines. A project that I know will have a positive impact upon the residents living in Nether Prov idence,” said Killion.
The project will reline 2,300 linear feet of 15’ and 18’ sewer line along Beatty Run and 150 linear feet of 8’ sewer line along Creekside Lane. The Beatty Run sewer line is the largest line in the township and has been subject to sanitary sewer overf low, resulting in a consent order with PA DEP. This relining project will resolve the two largest priority inf low and inf iltration problem areas identified in the township.
“This award will help Nether Providence Township address the sewer overf low issue with the largest line in the township,” K rueger-Braneky said. “These funds will ensure the township is in compliance with PA DEP’s consent order and prevent future overflow problems along Beatty Run and Creekside Lane.”
“I have worked with, and heard the concerns from Nether Providence Township regarding these large sewer lines. I am so pleased that they have received funding from the PA Small Water and Sewer, so that they can start addressing these issues that have become a top priority for the township,” concluded Killion.
Pipe, manhole repair in 8th District
HARRISBURG» Sen. Anthony W. Williams (D-Philadelphia/Delaware) Collingdale and Lansdowne boroughs are set to receive state grants to help repair their sewer systems, according to state Sen. Anthony H. Williams (D-Philadelphia/Delaware).
Williams said Collingdale Borough will receive a grant of $406,792 and Lansdowne Borough will receive $43,206 to complete repairs. The funding was approved through the state’s Commonwealth Financing Authority’s PA Small Water and Sewer program.
“The grant funding will enable both Collingdale and Lansdowne to rehabilitate their sewer systems,” Williams said. “Finding state resources lessens the burden on local communities to fund improvements.”
Williams said that Collingdale would use the grant funds to rehabilitate the sanitary sewer pipe and manholes along Hansen Place, Lafayette Avenue and Pusey Run. The project addresses severe excess stormwater overf lows, which impact sewage f low. The project includes the installation of sewer lines, cured inplace lining, cement lining, manholes and sealing laterals.
In Lansdowne, the grant funds will replace a brick manhole and deteriorating clay pipe beneath Pennock Terrace. The project lessens the risk to the local aquifer from f low from a nearby deteriorating sewer line.
“Finding new state dollars to help make critical repairs of sewer lines improves water quality and aids the community,” Williams said.