HHS News Release

HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala today announced the award of $2.8 million in grants to help six community coalitions fight gang activity and youth violence.

"These community programs give us a rare opportunity to help young people choose against gangs and break the cycle of violence," said Secretary Shalala. "This is the kind of investment in people that President Clinton has championed. But Congress has proposed eliminating this youth violence prevention program."

Funded under the Youth Gang Drug Prevention Program of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, the six community coalition grantees will develop action plans to concentrate resources on socially and economically isolated neighborhoods and identify the developmental needs of youth (ages 9-12) within their communities. The goals of the program include community and family involvement, as well as providing academic support and career opportunities for young people. More than 6,000 young people will be served through these grants.

Specific activities for young people will include afterschool and summer tutoring and programs for prevention of substance abuse, alcohol and tobacco use, and pregnancy. Youth will also participate in leadership activities, such as youth conferences and wilderness experiences. Job training and preparation, non-violent conflict resolution and mediation training will also be offered, as will referrals to health, mental health and social services.

Parents will also receive services from grantees, with training in parenting and leadership skills. The organizations will form parent support groups and provide parents with job training and search activities.

Each project will be consist of a community-based consortium developed by the grantee which will involve all sectors of the community and organize community-wide events to promote families and pride in their neighborhood.

"The community is the central focus of all the grants and the coalitions aim to increase community support in addressing and reducing the problems of youth violence," said Mary Jo Bane, HHS assistant secretary for children and families. "The building of youth esteem to resist dangerous and destructive behavior and the involvement and preservation of the family are major goals of all the grants."

Grant recipients are:

o San Diego Youth and Community Services, Calif., $499,181.
o San Francisco Police Department, Calif., $500,000.
o Good Shepherd Services, New York, N.Y., $380,000.
o Memphis City Schools, Memphis, Tenn., $485,439.
o Alivane, Inc., El Paso, Texas, $499,976.
o City of Spokane, Wash., $498,834.

Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.

Contact: Michael Kharfen (202) 401-9215