The Bloom Township Youth Department received
the 2000 AITCOY (Association of Illinois Township Committees on Youth)
Youth Organization Award during the Township Officials of Illinois Annual
Education Conference in Springfield.
The award was given because of the townships
innovative Neighborhood Restorative Justice Mediation Program, which also
garnered a Governorss Hometown Award for Bloom Township.
The AITCOY award was presented during the
annual TOI (Township Officials of Illinois) award luncheon at the Crowne
Plaza Hotel in Springfield and representatives from Bloom Township Youth
Department as well as elected officials and staff were again honored during
a special AITCOY awards reception later that day.
The Neighborhood Restorative Justice Mediation
Program is an At-Risk Youth Program for Juvenile Offenders. The concept
of the program is to teach youth to be accountable for the actions that
have brought them to mediation. The mediation takes place in the 6th
Municipal District Court in Markham, Illinois and is conducted by community
volunteers who have received specialized training in conflict resolution
skills at St. Xavier University Center for Conflict Resolution.
"We are very honored to receive this award,"
Township Supervisor Thomas T.J Somer said. "It is always gratifying to
receive special recognition from ones peers and I would like to thank our
many volunteers who give so generously of their time and make this program
possible," he said.