Overview

Links: Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative Website Funding Opportunities: Community Matching Grants

In 2008, Seattle's mayor brought together community leaders, principals, members of the faith community and others to develop a new approach to preventing youth and gang-related violence. A year later, the Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative was established. Its mission is to reduce and prevent youth violence.

The Initiative doesn't wait for youth who are at risk for committing violent behavior, or of becoming a victim of violence, to seek out help—its staff and partners seek them out. Whether it's helping them to stay in school, re-enter society, or manage their anger, the objective is to intervene at a crucial time in the lives of young people and offer them a better path.

The Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative:

• Helps youth with repeat offenses re-enter society from state and county detention programs.
• Provides alternatives for youth who are arrested for crimes, but not detained.
• Helps middle-school truants and students at risk of suspension stay in school and succeed.
• Prevents victims of violence and their friends and relatives from continuing the cycle of violence through retaliation.

Visit the Initiative's website to learn more.