Lourdes Youth Services was recently awarded a three-year grant by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to help curb youth violence and improve the health and wellbeing of youth in the City of Binghamton.
Lourdes was one of nine demonstration sites in the nation that will receive funding through the Minority Youth Violence Prevention: Integrating Public Health and Community Policing Approaches (MYVP) program, a joint effort by United States Department of Health and Human Services and the United States Department of Justice. All chosen sites will field initiatives that combine community policing and prevention approaches within a public health framework.
Despite significant improvements in the overall health status of the nation, youth violence and reduced access to public health services continue among racial and ethnic minority populations. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 4,700 young people ages 10 to 24 were victims of homicide in 2012. In this age group, homicide is the leading cause of death for African Americans, the second leading cause of death for Hispanics, and the third leading cause of death for American Indians and Alaska Natives.
The goals of the program, to be named Binghamton Community and Schools Together (BCAST), include:
• Support interventions aimed at addressing youth violence
• Improve academic outcomes
• Increase access to public health and social services
• Reduce disparities
• Reduce negative encounters with law enforcement
• Reduce violent crimes against minority youth
These goals will be addressed by forging a stronger and more innovative collaboration among public health and law enforcement officials and community groups to enhance more pathways to success in education, employment and health for all youth.
The program will be implemented beginning in February 2015.
