Greater Trenton Outreach to Support Youth Victims of Gang Violence

The Supporting Victims of Gang Violence Grant Program provides funding for localities to increase the availability of direct support services for victims of gang-related violence and to develop or enhance the responses to children and youth exposed to gang-related violence in their homes, schools, and communities. This program is authorized by Pub. L. No. 116-6, 133 Stat. 13, 113.

The Greater Trenton Outreach to Support Youth Victims Of Gang Violence project will address the unique needs of youth who have been directly impacted by the increasing gang activity that results in harm to youth in their schools, neighborhoods, and community. The goals of this project are to 1) provide a robust and coordinated human services response to victims of gang violence; 2) increase understanding of gang violence and its effects on victims in an effort to develop and implement targeted, informed response mechanisms and interventions; 3) enhance the safety and recovery of at-risk youth and youth victims; and 4) reduce their risk of (re)victimization.

This project aims to comprehensively respond to the needs of youth victims of gang violence with a multi-disciplinary approach that takes into account their physical safety, mental health, social, support network, and educational needs – all of which are critical elements of healthy youth development that can be derailed by gang violence victimization. Project outcomes metrics are designed to support assessment of each of the above domains as well as 1) the community’s gang presence and its impact on community violence experienced by youth; 2) effectiveness of the project's human services interventions provided; 4) effectiveness in enhancing safety and recovery of at-risk youth and youth victims; and 5)effectiveness in reducing their risk of (re)victimization.
CA/NCF