Report says East End youth need more help

Drug abuse, gang involvement, low employment and high school graduation rates are just some of the issues  threating the health, safety and success of young people on the East End, according to a report compiled by Suffolk County and regional municipalities.

The document reveals several statistics government officials feel need to be addressed: a decrease of government funding, stagnation of household income, decrease of childcare subsidies, an increase of applications for food stamps and an increase in domestic violence.

The report states the declining conditions in Suffolk County are contributing to more drug use and criminal acts by young people. One example cited was Southold Police reported that in 2013, 46 juveniles had criminal cases that resulted in five arrests that were prosecuted through family court, according to the document.

To help combat the problems facing the East End’s children, members of the group who wrote the study — including Southold Town’s special projects coordinator Phillip Beltz — said the data supports the need for prevention and intervention programs and services for youth living on the East End of Long Island.

A public meeting to discuss the findings is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the David Crohan Community Center, located at 655 Flanders Road, Flanders.

Scroll down to read the full report:

East End Regional Youth Assessment