Prevention Education Inc

PROJECT ABSTRACT: COUNCIL AGAINST YOUTH VIOLENCE EXPANSION YOUTH IN THE CITY OF TRENTON (NJ) SPEND THEIR FORMATIVE YEARS IN A CITY WITH HIGH RATES OF POVERTY, CRIME, GANG ACTIVITY AND COMMUNITY VIOLENCE WHICH PERPETUATES A YOUTH-VIOLENCE CULTURE THAT ENSNARES MANY YOUTH AND THEIR FUTURES. ACCORDING TO THE 2017 TRENTON COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT REPORT, CRIME AND SAFETY WERE CONSISTENTLY DISCUSSED AS MAJOR ISSUES BY CITY RESIDENTS; AND THERE IS MUCH QUANTITATIVE DATA THAT CONTINUES TO CORROBORATE THEIR CONCERNS. RECOGNIZING THAT THE OUTCOMES OF VIOLENCE ARE BROADER THAN PHYSICAL INJURY, PEI KIDS LAUNCHED THE COUNCIL AGAINST YOUTH VIOLENCE (CAYV) IN 2019 WITH FUNDING FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO PROVIDE A ROBUST, COORDINATED HUMAN SERVICES RESPONSE FOR YOUTH VICTIMS OF GANG AND COMMUNITY VIOLENCE USING A COLLABORATIVE MDT MODEL. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SIX COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND THE LEVEL 2 TRAUMA CENTER/HOSPITAL, SERVICES PROVIDED INCLUDE CASE MANAGEMENT; MENTAL-HEALTH COUNSELING; EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR ENDANGERED/HOMELESS/RUNAWAY YOUTH; RELOCATION; TUTORING; HIGH-SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY PREP/TESTING; ALCOHOL/DRUG ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT; ANGER MANAGEMENT; CRISIS COUNSELING FOR VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT/EXPLOITATION; AND SPECIALIZED SERVICES FOR YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES/COMPLEX NEEDS. PROJECT GOALS INCLUDE 1)STREAMLINING/EXPEDITING SERVICES TO VICTIMS THOUGH EFFECTIVE CASE MANAGEMENT; 2)COORDINATING SERVICES ACROSS MULTIPLE PROVIDERS; 3)ENHANCING THE SAFETY OF AT-RISK YOUTH/YOUTH VICTIMS; 4)REDUCING THEIR RISK OF (RE)VICTIMIZATION; AND 5)INCREASING UNDERSTANDING OF COMMUNITY VIOLENCE AND ITS EFFECTS TO PROMOTE TRAUMA-INFORMED RESPONSE/INTERVENTIONS AMONG YOUTH-SERVING PROFESSIONALS. THE CAYV EXPANSION WILL CONTINUE TO ADVANCE THESE GOALS AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL GOALS OF 6)OFFERING A HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE BY ONBOARDING ADDITIONAL PROGRAM PARTNERS/SERVICE PROVIDERS; 7)CREATING A SUPPORT GROUP TO PROVIDE PEER AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT FOR YOUTH EXPOSED TO VIOLENCE; AND 8)ADDING 24-HOUR CRISIS RESPONSE CAPABILITY TO SUPPORT THE STATE’S FBI OFFICE WITH SERVING YOUTH CRIME VICTIMS DURING WEEKENDS/OFF-HOURS. OUTCOMES METRICS ARE DESIGNED TO SUPPORT ASSESSMENT OF THESE (8) GOALS AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY’S RESPONSE IN DELIVERING SERVICES FOR YOUTH VICTIMS; AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE INTERVENTIONS PROVIDED. THROUGH THIS PROJECT, PEI KIDS WILL STRATEGICALLY EXPAND CAYV’S SERVICES TO SUPPORT THE PHYSICAL SAFETY, MENTAL HEALTH, SOCIAL, SUPPORT NETWORK, AND EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF VICTIMS, ALL CRITICAL ELEMENTS OF HEALTHY YOUTH DEVELOPMENT THAT CAN BE DERAILED BY VIOLENCE VICTIMIZATION. PEI KIDS SEEKS PRIORITY CONSIDERATION UNDER THE FOLLOWING PRIORITY AREAS: AREA 2: COMMUNITIES WITH DOCUMENTED HIGH/INCREASING LEVELS OF HOMICIDES PER CAPITA. AREA 3: APPLICANTS WITH EXISTING PARTNERSHIPS/MDT STAKEHOLDER MEMBERS (SEE ATTACHMENT, “CVIPI TEAM”). PEI KIDS WILL COLLABORATE WITH RESEARCH PARTNER, THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY (MOU ATTACHED)

PURPOSE: THE YOUTH HOMELESSNESS DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM (YHDP) AIMS TO SUPPORT SELECTED COMMUNITIES IN DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING A COORDINATED COMMUNITY APPROACH TO PREVENTING AND ENDING YOUTH HOMELESSNESS. THE POPULATION TO BE SERVED BY THIS DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM IS YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, INCLUDING UNACCOMPANIED AND PREGNANT OR PARENTING YOUTH. THE DEMONSTRATION HAS SEVEN PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: • BUILD NATIONAL MOMENTUM. • PROMOTE EQUITY IN THE DELIVERY AND OUTCOMES OF HOMELESS ASSISTANCE. • HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUTH LEADERSHIP. • EVALUATE THE COORDINATED COMMUNITY APPROACH. • EXPAND CAPACITY. • EVALUATE PERFORMANCE MEASURES. • ESTABLISH A FRAMEWORK FOR THE FEDERAL PROGRAM AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE COLLABORATION. BEGINNING IN 2016, NEW YHDP COMMUNITIES ARE SELECTED THROUGH A COMPETITIVE PROCESS DEPENDING ON THE ANNUAL FUNDING PROVIDED BY CONGRESS. A MAP OF CURRENTLY FUNDED YHDP SITES IS AVAILABLE AT THE LINK TITLED MAP OF YHDP-FUNDED COC AT HTTPS://WWW.HUDEXCHANGE.INFO/PROGRAMS/YHDP/FY-2022-APPLICATION-RESOURCES/. THE YOUTH HOMELESSNESS DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM (YHDP) AIMS TO SUPPORT SELECTED COMMUNITIES IN DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING A COORDINATED COMMUNITY APPROACH TO PREVENTING AND ENDING YOUTH HOMELESSNESS. THE POPULATION TO BE SERVED BY THIS DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM IS YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, INCLUDING UNACCOMPANIED AND PREGNANT OR PARENTING YOUTH. THE DEMONSTRATION HAS SEVEN PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: • BUILD NATIONAL MOMENTUM. • PROMOTE EQUITY IN THE DELIVERY AND OUTCOMES OF HOMELESS ASSISTANCE. • HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUTH LEADERSHIP. • EVALUATE THE COORDINATED COMMUNITY APPROACH. • EXPAND CAPACITY. • EVALUATE PERFORMANCE MEASURES. • ESTABLISH A FRAMEWORK FOR THE FEDERAL PROGRAM AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE COLLABORATION. BEGINNING IN 2016, NEW YHDP COMMUNITIES ARE SELECTED THROUGH A COMPETITIVE PROCESS DEPENDING ON THE ANNUAL FUNDING PROVIDED BY CONGRESS. A MAP OF CURRENTLY FUNDED YHDP SITES IS AVAILABLE AT THE LINK TITLED MAP OF YHDP-FUNDED COC (UNDER YHDP COMMUNITIES) AT HTTPS://WWW.HUDEXCHANGE.INFO/PROGRAMS/YHDP/.; ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: ELEVEN TYPES OF ASSISTANCE MAY BE PROVIDED THROUGH THE YHDP: 1. ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY (INCLUDING STRUCTURES) FOR USE IN THE PROVISION OF HOUSING OR SUPPORTIVE SERVICES; 2. REHABILITATION OF STRUCTURES TO PROVIDE HOUSING OR SUPPORTIVE SERVICES; 3. NEW CONSTRUCTION, INCLUDING THE BUILDING OF A NEW STRUCTURE OR BUILDING AN ADDITION TO AN EXISTING STRUCTURE FOR USE AS SUPPORTIVE HOUSING; 4. LEASING OF A NEW STRUCTURE OR STRUCTURES, OR PORTIONS THEREOF, TO PROVIDE HOUSING OR SUPPORTIVE SERVICES; 5. RENTAL ASSISTANCE, WHICH MAY BE SHORT-TERM, MEDIUM-TERM, OR LONG-TERM, AS WELL AS TENANT-BASED, PROJECT-BASED, OR SPONSOR-BASED, FOR TRANSITIONAL OR PERMANENT HOUSING; 6. SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO ASSIST PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN HOUSING; 7. OPERATING COSTS OF SUPPORTIVE HOUSING; 8. COSTS OF IMPLEMENTING AND OPERATING HOMELESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM (HMIS); 9. PROGRAM ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS; 10. RELOCATION COSTS; AND 11. INDIRECT COSTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH 2 CFR PART 200, AS APPLICABLE. NO ASSISTANCE PROVIDED UNDER THIS PROGRAM (OR ANY STATE OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUNDS USED TO SUPPLEMENT THIS ASSISTANCE) MAY BE USED TO REPLACE STATE OR LOCAL FUNDS PREVIOUSLY USED, OR DESIGNATED FOR USE, TO ASSIST HOMELESS PERSONS OR PERSONS AT-RISK OF HOMELESSNESS.; EXPECTED OUTCOMES: AS A RESULT OF DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING A COORDINATED COMMUNITY APPROACH TO PREVENTING AND ENDING YOUTH HOMELESSNESS, THERE WILL BE: • SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF YOUTHS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. • INCREASED INCOME, EDUCATION, HEALTH, AND SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING OF PARTICIPANTS. • COMMUNITY-LEVEL UNDERSTANDING OF THE NUMBER AND NEEDS OF YOUTH AT-RISK OF AND EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. • NEW OR IMPROVED PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN YOUTH-SERVING ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY.; INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: HOMELESS UNACCOMPANIED YOUTH (AGE 24 AND YOUNGER) AND HOMELESS YOUTH (AGE 24 AND YOUNGER) WITH CHILDREN.; SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: THE SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES ARE UNKNOWN AT THE TIME OF AWARD

GREATER TRENTON OUTREACH TO SUPPORT YOUTH VICTIMS OF GANG VIOLENCE