Youth Violence Cessation Initiative

Inspira Health Network proposes to implement the Cumberland County NJ Youth Violence Cessation Initiative, a collective effort with the purpose of reducing youth violence by increasing and improving access to events, activities, resources, and services for youth living in the most violence-impacted communities of the county. Activities include assessment of current programs’ ability to reach youth most at risk, integration/coordination of existing community-based efforts, and provision of capacity building and financial support for youth service organizations. Expected outcomes include increased availability and access to essential violence prevention, intervention, and response programs, recreation, and enrichment for youth from high violence neighborhood; increased engagement of these youth with services; and community-wide reduction in youth violence. Subrecipient activities include empowerment and employment of youth in violence prevention activity; increased access to case management, mentoring, and support services provided by Gateway Wellness Center, United Advocacy Group,  and Life Worth Living;  technical assistance and training from the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office and The John S. Watson Institute for Urban Policy and Research to increase capacity of community based organizations that provide youth services; and the creation of a county-wide collaborative summer camp experience to reduce exposure to community violence and promote positive youth development.