Boston, Worcester, Fall River, Springfield, New Bedford, Brockton awarded funding to combat youth violence

BOSTON –The Baker-Polito Administration today awarded more than $10 million in state funding through the Senator Charles E. Shannon, Jr. Community Safety Initiative (Shannon CSI) Grant Program, which invest resources necessary to combat youth violence in target communities across Massachusetts. In addition to the 15 Shannon CSI grants awarded, the Administration also awarded funds to academic Local Action Research Partners that will provide technical, research and other support to each of the program sites.

The Shannon CSI is centered on the key elements outlined in the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s Comprehensive Gang Model. The funding supports regional and multi-disciplinary approaches to youth violence intervention, prevention, enforcement, prosecution and reintegration services. Each grant recipient will distribute funds among partner agencies and programs identified in their grant application. The initiative is designed to serve youth and emerging adults between the ages of 10 and 24 living in a community that has been identified as a hot-spot and who are at-risk or high-risk of gang involvement. Each of the grant-funded sites includes numerous partner agencies, including law enforcement, social service providers and other agencies focused on intervention, prevention, suppression, youth programming and community mobilization efforts.

LARPs will provide grant recipients with the technical and research support, assistance in completing reports and feedback to ensure that programs are utilizing best practices.

“Since taking office, I have worked to ensure that Massachusetts communities have the resources necessary to promote public safety while providing positive opportunities for young people. There is no single agency or approach that can achieve this goal. The partnerships built through the Shannon Community Safety Initiative are an important part of our work creating safer communities,” said Governor Charlie Baker.

“The young people and communities served through this initiative will benefit from evidence-based, multi-disciplinary approaches and strong collaboration among service providers and law enforcement. This approach is a model for serving our youth,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito.

The Shannon CSI grants are awarded through an annual competitive application process. The funding is administered by the Office of Grants and Research (OGR), a state agency that is part of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS).

“I’m proud to see the partnerships that have been formed and strengthened as a result of this grant funding. Public safety requires that law enforcement and communities work together, and these grants help grow those vital relationships,” said Secretary of Public Safety and Security Terrence Reidy.

“This funding allows community-based organizations, law enforcement, state and local partners to come together to create opportunities and safety nets for young people. These partnerships are central to the work we do at the Office of Grants and Research,” said OGR Executive Director Kevin Stanton.

The following sites have been awarded Shannon CSI grants:

Shannon CSI LARP recipients are: