ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County is making a major investment to attempt to curb juvenile crime.

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The county now plans to fund a mentorship program that works with at-risk youth.

Credible Messengers aren’t new to working with at-risk youth across Orange County. But for the first time, Orange County is backing the program with funding.

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Five Credible Messengers will be paid $50,000 a year to provide mentorship aimed at reducing crime and getting guns out of children’s hands.

For years, Credible Messengers have been working in neighborhood hotspots to provide mentorship to children both after school and on weekends.

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The county said the five new Credible Messengers will start in October, once commissioners sign off on the contract.

See the full story in the video above.

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