DECATUR - It costs $60,000 a year to house a youth in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Lori Long, deputy director for Macon County's probation department, cited that figure Wednesday evening as one reason why the community needs to come up with better options for how it treats youth who have committed crimes.

During a meeting at Decatur Public Library, Long explained how the process will work for potential seekers of grant funding available under Macon County Community ACCESS, a program that seeks to reduce the number of youth sent to prison.

The county will receive about $360,000 through June 30, 2006, which will be spent on substance abuse treatment, mental health services, home intervention, residential placement and the teen court program. About 25 youth will be served at any time.

The county is seeking applicants for the funding through Aug. 19. For more information, call 424-1444, ext. 8666.

In June, Presiding Judge John K. Greanias decided to pull out of the grant, formerly called Redeploy Illinois. He cited a lack of local cooperation but later reversed course, saying the necessary cooperation is now in place.

Keith Anderson, founder of the Homework Hangout after-school tutoring program, said he would like to see a similar program for youth in the court system. But he questioned how church or community groups would fit into the criteria for grant funding. One condition, for example, is that service providers have state licensing or other approval for their programs.

Associate Judge Lisa Holder White, who hears juvenile delinquency cases, encouraged Anderson and others with similar ideas to apply. She said troubled youth need programs that will provide a positive influence.

"I don't want anyone to feel discouraged," she said. "Apply, please. We will work with you. We want you to apply."

White serves on the advisory committee that will review applications from potential service providers. Among the more than 25 people who attended Wednesday's meeting were representatives of Heritage Behavioral Health Center, Chestnut Health Systems, Youth Advocate, Project Success and a handful of local churches.

The Rev. Carey A. Grady of St. Peter's AME Church said he envisions starting a program to deter youth from crime. The Rev. Aubrey Hudson of El Bethel Church of God in Christ had similar thoughts. Hudson said young people need somewhere to go from 4 to 10:30 p.m., the time when they are most likely to find trouble.

The county also is seeking volunteers to serve on community boards that will work with young offenders to make positive changes in their lives. For more information, call 425-4518.

Stephanie Potter can be reached at spotter@;herald-review.com or 421-7984.