For Immediate Release: 2/3/2016 3:46 pm
Worcester, MA (February 3, 2016) - City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. announced today that the Worcester Police Department will receive a Shannon Community Safety Initiative award in the amount of $506,992 to reduce citywide gang violence and youth crime.
The state-funded, competitive grant will allow Worcester to address priorities outlined in the citywide Youth Violence Prevention Initiative, which launched in June 2015. Worcester's 2016 Shannon strategy is a multidisciplinary approach with three core components: suppression, social intervention and opportunity provision.
The strategy aims to provide recreational, educational and job opportunities for youth while simultaneously providing positive development and mentorship opportunities for at-risk youth. The strategy is detailed in the City's application, attached below.
"Youth violence is a problem that tears apart our neighborhoods and families across generations, and the City of Worcester is working across many fronts and with dozens of community partners to address it," said City Manager Augustus. "We are thankful to Gov. Baker and his administration for continuing to support the Shannon program, which will help support the City's efforts to attack the root of these problems."
Governor Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito and Secretary of Public Safety and Security Dan Bennett announced Wednesday the statewide release of $6.7 million in Shannon grant funds to 15 communities and 10 local partners to bolster their efforts to combat gang violence.
Last year, nearly 2,000 youth benefited from services funded by the Shannon grant, 276 known to be gang involved. The most served age group was youth ages 12-17, though programs help residents ages 5 to over 30.
Worcester is also one of the communities that received funding for a Local Action Research Partner. Clark University, which received nearly $60,000, serves as Worcester's LARP in providing research and analytical support to the City's Shannon program.
The 2016 Shannon Strategy aligns with the strategies of the initiative, specifically targeting childhood health, education and overall well-being; community outreach to interrupt violence and connect youth to resources; and re-entry/anti-recidivism programs that better support young people.
A network of organizations partner with the Worcester Police Department to enact the Shannon strategy, including: Worcester Police Gang Unit, Worcester Public Schools, Worcester Juvenile Probation, Worcester District Court Probation, Clark University, Boys and Girls Club of Worcester, The Worcester Youth Center, Straight Ahead Ministries, Worcester Community Action Council and Worcester House of Corrections.
Programs administered by the Worcester Police Department enable police officers to have direct contact with residents, such as monitoring probationers and juvenile offenders, and provide safe and structured environments for youth, such as summer camp and athletic activities. Community nonprofits provide summer employment programs and support for caseworkers.
shannon-application.pdf
