Worcester Awarded $25,000 Grant for Youth Violence Prevention Initiative

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Wednesday, November 11, 2015

GoLocalWorcester News Team

AG Maura Healey

Attorney General Maura Healey announced on Tuesday that her office has awarded the City of Worcester' a $25,000 grant to implement its Youth Violence Prevention Initiative.

The funds will be distributed to two nonprofit organizations that who will employ trained outreach workers to work with 20 to 25 of the city's highest risk men (ages 17-24) and connect them with needed social, behavioral and employment services. The goal of the initiative is to put an end to gang violence, in turn,making the city safer.

“Our effort to address the root causes of violence statewide happens one city and town at a time. This grant will help the city’s highest risk young people obtain the resources they need to live safe and healthy lives," said Healey.

The Youth Violence Prevention Initiative will build on previous programs the city has participated in to help reduce violence. The city will also use partnerships it has developed through these programs as well as input from other organization to identify the high risk young men it will target.

“Putting a major dent in gang violence is a priority of the city, and we're grateful it's a shared priority for Attorney General Healey. This much-needed grant will support the city's Youth Violence Prevention Initiative, a collaborative effort between the city, police, juvenile court, Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early, and more than 40 community organizations that will take a serious, evidence-based approach to curbing violence among our young people," said City Manager Edward Augustus, Jr.

The workers will use street outreach efforts to connect with identified at risk men and assist them as they go through job skills training and drug treatment programs.

The initiative will begin this spring and will conclude in December of 2016.