OJJDP Administrator Liz Ryan traveled to Charleston, SC, on June 25 to address a convening of grantees funded under the Strategies To Support Children Exposed to Violence initiative. OJJDP has awarded more than $28.1 million under the initiative since fiscal year (FY) 2020, including nearly $7.8 million in FY 2023. The Office expects to award additional funding to eight grantees in FY 2024.

The funding supports community efforts to develop coordinated and comprehensive community-based approaches that help children and families who have experienced violence to heal and build resilience, and that prevent future victimization.

“Through your programming, you provide prevention and intervention services in collaboration with community partners such as schools, law enforcement, mental health providers, shelters, juvenile justice facilities, community-based organizations, and child welfare agencies,” Administrator Ryan said. “You also provide training in trauma-informed care to community partners that work with youth and families to better identify and respond to victimization. Congratulations on your continued dedication.”

Administrator Ryan cited work planned by FY 2023 grantees, including the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, which will provide hospital-based violence intervention services to children who have been admitted to the emergency department. Another grantee, LUK, Inc., will implement the Personalized Approach To Healing (PATH) program at crisis centers in north central Massachusetts, providing youth with a continuum of prevention, intervention, and treatment services. Administrator Ryan also mentioned work performed in Memphis, TN, by grantee Methodist Le Bonheur Community Outreach, which used FY 2022 funding to provide Stop the Bleed training for 192 community participants and add 6 new facilitators.