The Senator Charles E. Shannon Community Safety Initiative (Shannon CSI) is a state grant program administered by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) to "support regional and multi-disciplinary approaches to combat gang violence through coordinated programs for prevention and intervention." These multi-disciplinary approaches may include, but are not limited to, law enforcement initiatives such as anti-gang task forces and targeting of enforcement resources through the use of crime mapping; focused prosecution efforts; programs aimed at successful reintegration of released inmates and youth from juvenile detention; and programs that provide youth with supervised out-of-school activities.

The Safe and Successful Youth Initiative provides grants to municipalities that join with community partners to implement violence prevention programs. The program, which operates directly under the auspices of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS), is part of a broader state initiative to reduce youth violence in Massachusetts.

The Safe and Successful Youth Initiative focuses on young men between the ages of 14-24 who are at risk of being victims or perpetrators of violence. Grants are awarded to municipalities with high levels of youth-related homicides and other assaults. Communities that receive grants must show that they have relationships with community partners, including educational, medical, and behavioral health programs and community and faith-based organizations, and they must implement strategies to coordinate services and fill gaps in services for young men. Activities supported by the grants include street outreach, trauma counseling and employment programs.

ROCA has developed a unique strategy in working with high-risk youth built upon evidence based and best practices. Their Intervention model, built on this best practices model, is utilized the programming they provide for proven risk youth in the City's Safe and Successful Youth Initiative.

It is their proven record of effectively providing outreach in high crime areas that makes their inclusion in this Shannon program worthy of consideration. The Shannon program will partially fund one ROCA outreach worker to identify and refer in a prevention mode to a Shannon agency identified to best meet the needs of the outreached youth. Street outreach has been crucial in locating youth in the places where they hang out. All youth located are not necessarily proven risk and the Shannon funded outreach position will now have an opportunity to refer other than proven risk youth to community based for service.

Refer to the ROCA website for more information.

The Teen Opportunity Program (TOP) will serve thirty at-risk youth in their carpentry skills program. CSP, Video Interface and Production (VIP),featuring videos, audio, and graphics operations in this media literacy youth tracking to create videos, documentaries, and produce films. Their Joyful Academy of Music (JAM) program uses musical production, vocal and instrumental performances, under the direction of the City Beat's TV program. Their youth programming is consistent with the best practices model outlined in several publications of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

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Each year for the past six years, the Boys and Girls Club has serviced 100 teen youth from one of the City's most disadvantaged areas. They provide opportunities for teen youth to attend youth programming Tuesday-Friday 6:30-9:30pm and on Saturday 12-5pm. The groups of teens participate in college tours, job shadowing events, anti-gang violence presentations, leadership and character development events, and job readiness training. They have successfully placed 50 youth in employment through the New England Farm Workers Union.

Visit the Boys and Girls Club website for more information.

Through their Bridging the Gap Program they will provide services for a minimum of 75 gang related court involved youth or referred Shannon Partner youth and focus on the prevention area of reducing youth violence and gangs. While using a multi-disciplinary anti-gang strategy, they will address issues related to gang violence, substance abuse, educational guidance, family and peer issues, social media issues, and employment opportunities. This national model for prevention programs for at-risk youth participates with other Shannon partners, the District attorney's Office, Sheriff's Department, Bay State Medical Center, Regional Employment Board Services Shannon identified youth and District Attorney 's Office referrals, ages 10-17 who fall into the category of "community disadvantaged."

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The Y-AIM program (Achieve academically, Inspire to attend college, and Move toward personal family and community advancement), provides academic support and counseling for at-risk youth at the City's high schools. They will track 175 youth, ages 13-18 to increase the number of high school graduates, increase home supports/and involvement via family events. The Y will also focus on the high truancy rates in the neighborhood. In the summer, the Y sponsors 20 youth to attend the Counselor in training program and teen camp experience. At the Dunbar, the YMCA will host teen and family nights, and award ceremonies with incentives throughout the duration of the program. The Y programming boasts and 89% attendance rate by the youth involved.

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They plan to serve 60-70 at risk youth. Services include: groups, workshops, structured recreation projects, video development and outreach efforts. Program youth will receive ESOL curses, GED training, after school programming, re-entry for juvenile offenders, home visits to involve family members, and family planning. They will address two of the needs of the client population: Afterschool leadership/Education program and Outreach/Mentoring Street Worker. The Staff works very closely with the effective C3 police model effort which has successfully engaged a large community population working together to solve violence and other community issues.

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The Youth Build Program teaches skills to local youth, including occupational skill development in the construction trades and green industries. The Y works closely with the area community colleges for certificate programs and college prep classes. All participants are required to pass the OSHA-10 certification.

Connection and referral to volunteer adult mentors are made formally through the Springfield School volunteer program. Mentoring relationships will have a duration of at least twelve months.

All youth participates in the "Work Readiness Certificate Program" taught by their career counselor and case manager. The case manager meets weekly with each youth to track progress and provide ongoing support and advocacy.

Visit the YWCA site for more information.

The MLK "Shadow Me" program is designed to reduce the number of violent incidences of physical fighting, assaults with deadly weapons, and other aggressive and disruptive behavior in academic and community settings. Their focus is to actively reach out and engage high at-risk youth in the city as a means of developing positive and healthy relationships. Their model includes search, coaching, relationship building, advocacy, goal setting, and measurement tracking. They focus on collaboration with other Shannon partners, juvenile court, and the Hampden County Sheriff's Department.

Night Spot program provides at-risk youth with GED classes, career training, job development and placement, and higher education opportunities.

Visit the MLK Family Services site for more information.

Their Community Youth Corps (CYC) promotes community awareness and community participation as an alternative to gang involvement, while gaining the necessary leadership skills needed in today's society. Each participant will gain self-discipline, improve self-confidence, and increase self esteem. The program serves South End Community Center youth, 11-18 years old.

They will enroll 50 youth. Each group of youth will be supervised by the program coordinator on 2 different days per week. Services include business and economics exposure, health fitness and nutrition, career planning and higher education, exposure to elements of the criminal justice system, and performing arts and culture.

Refer to the South End Community Center website for more information.

ROCA has developed a unique strategy in working with high-risk youth built upon evidence based and best practices. Their Intervention model, built on this best practices model, is utilized the programming they provide for proven risk youth in the City's Safe and Successful Youth Initiative.

It is their proven record of effectively providing outreach in high crime areas that makes their inclusion in this Shannon program worthy of consideration. The Shannon program will partially fund one ROCA outreach worker to identify and refer in a prevention mode to a Shannon agency identified to best meet the needs of the outreached youth. Street outreach has been crucial in locating youth in the places where they hang out. All youth located are not necessarily proven risk and the Shannon funded outreach position will now have an opportunity to refer other than proven risk youth to community based for service.

Refer to the ROCA website for more information.

Click for more information.

Click for more information.

Through their Bridging the Gap Program they will provide services for a minimum of 75 gang related court involved youth or referred Shannon Partner youth and focus on the prevention area of reducing youth violence and gangs. While using a multi-disciplinary anti-gang strategy, they will address issues related to gang violence, substance abuse, educational guidance, family and peer issues, social media issues, and employment opportunities. This national model for prevention programs for at-risk youth participates with other Shannon partners, the District attorney's Office, Sheriff's Department, Bay State Medical Center, Regional Employment Board Services Shannon identified youth and District Attorney 's Office referrals, ages 10-17 who fall into the category of "community disadvantaged."

Click for more information.