CAIRO — Grady County commissioners voted unanimously last week to donate $20,000 to the Jackie Robinson Boys & Girls Club to help combat risky behaviors among youth.

The budgeted annual donation commissioners approved last week will support the club’s SMART Moves program — a youth-focused initiative designed to teach children ages 6-15 how to resist alcohol, drugs and premarital sexual activity using age-appropriate lessons.

Club director Stephen Francis said the long-term impact of SMART Moves is well worth the county’s investment, noting that it costs about $98,000 a year to incarcerate and rehabilitate a single youth in the juvenile justice system in Georgia, as opposed to just $500 a year for the Boys & Girls Club to provide a healthier alternative.

Francis cited the impact of the program on one former Club member named Devon, who has been involved in SMART Moves since he was a child.

“Devon, through our program, we helped him make smart decisions,” Francis said. 

Throughout his years in the program, Devon avoided alcohol, drugs and gang activity, and was known for being well-dressed.

“He made made good decisions,” Francis said, “and because of those good decisions, Devon went to college this year.”

Francis also noted in his proposal to the commissioners that use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs among youth — the vices SMART Moves seeks to combat — are recognized as major contributing factors in failure at school, truancy, running away, suicide, pregnancy, familial problems, automobile accidents, unemployment, violence and crime.

Commissioners concurred that investing in SMART Moves is a wise decision.

“I’d rather see them in your program than in the sheriff’s program,” said Commissioner Phillip Drew.

“The way I see it, if you can just change two or three kids, it’s worth it,” said Commissioner Ray Prince. 

Barring complications from the COVID-19 pandemic, the SMART Moves program will serve an estimated 60 children through October 2021.

Program success is measured by the percentage of members abstaining from risky behaviors.