OJJDP FY 2014 National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention Expansion Project

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Youth and gang violence affect urban, suburban, and rural communities across the United States. Young people can be perpetrators, victims, or witnesses to violence. Some violent acts, such as bullying, can cause as much emotional harm as physical harm. Other acts, such as assault, with or without weapons, can lead to serious injury or death. The consequences of youth gang and gun violence are visible and immediate and are felt by citizens nationwide. Likewise, exposure to violence that children and youth experience in their homes, schools, or communities harms citizens and communities. Without support and intervention, such exposure can impair children’s cognitive and emotional development, keep them from healing, lead to later serious health issues, and may perpetuate the cycle of violence. At the direction of President Obama, the Departments of Justice and Education launched the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention (Forum) to begin a national conversation concerning youth and gang violence and prevention, raise awareness, and elevate the issue to national significance. To enhance these efforts, the federal government supports Forum cities as they align and coordinate existing resources, engage in community outreach, develop and maintain strong collaboratives, and increase the engagement of youth, the faith community, law enforcement, victim services, and other key partners in their efforts. Successful applicants will become part of a national movement and a network and learning community of cities working to stem youth violence and improve the wellbeing of children and youth. OJJDP will competitively select as many as five new sites to join the Forum’s participating localities of Boston, Camden, Chicago, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Salinas, and San Jose. The FY 2014 National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention Expansion Project is authorized pursuant to paragraph (8) under the Juvenile Justice heading, in the Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2014, Pub. L. No. 113-76, 128 Stat. 5, 65.

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