DECATUR - Six Central Illinois organizations working with youth have received the first $50,000 in grants to be dispersed by the Regional Alliance for Youth.

The original grants from the alliance went to Dove Inc., the Illinois Rural Families Program, CAMA Inc. of Edgar and Clark counties, University of Illinois Extension Clark County, University of Illinois Extension Macon County and WEIU-TV, a Public Broadcasting Station of Eastern Illinois University.

The alliance itself is relatively new, formed after a process started about two years ago. The group represents a 16-county area and is supported by the Lumpkin Family Foundation for its grant process, said Mary Eddy, a staff support person for the alliance. Its 11-member board of directors has representatives of the clergy, educators, professionals and others who work with youth.

"The idea was to build collaboration and to encourage new collaboration between disciplines," said the Rev. Robert Bushey of Central Christian Church in Decatur.

Bushey is one of the few who has participated in the group since its initial organizational summit, now serving on the board of directors. Grants will enable agencies and others working with youth to have a new source of funding, said the pastor for children, youth and families.

"There are so many good services in this 16-county area," Bushey said.

But the formation of the alliance provides a chance to enhance those services, as well as develop ways of collaborating, ways to build relationships, he added.

"We got proposals from schools, from people who are fighting abuse. We got proposals from those fighting illiteracy, those with work force issues, from libraries," Eddy said. "Any organization which wanted to submit (a request) could."

And in at least one case, Eddy said, the alliance was able to help fund an existing program.

"We don't see ourselves as funding in perpetuity," she said, "but we're feeling as though we're having an exciting year."

Arlene Mannlein can be reached at amannlein@herald-review.com or at 421-6976.