Safe and Successful Youth Initiative Grant

The purpose of the Safe and Successful Youth Initiative (SSYI) is to help cities with documented high levels of youth violence reduce this violence at the community level.

See More!

With an eye on sustainability and building upon the positive youth development framework already in place, Fall River will use a case management model to identify “proven risk” youth, connect them and their families to pro-social activities and services, and provide ongoing monitoring and supervision. The Re-Creation Youth Outreach Program (YOP) will serve as a central hub for referrals and will work in collaboration with numerous partner organizations within the Fall River community to provide individualized services in order to reduce gang crime and youth violence.

The SSYI focuses on intervention (suppression activities such as arrests and patrols are not allowed) with a goal of supporting a full continuum of mandated services to the target population and their families:

  • Educational – drop out recovery that leads to return to school, including alternative educational options, to GED, to job training programs
  • Provide job training and employment opportunities – proven youth lack skills – they need structure and people who know how to work with this population
  • Provide trauma, health and behavioral support services, recognizing that “hurt people, hurt people” – includes substance abuse health

SSYI Target Population

Identification of Eligible Individuals, members of the gang unit (or equivalent unit) of the municipal police department shall identify Eligible Individuals.

An Eligible Individual is an individual who is 17-24 years old who currently resides/spends significant time in the community, spends a significant amount of time in the community or is expected to be released into the community and is known to law enforcement as meeting at least one of the following criteria:

  • Repeatedly engages in crimes against persons (not DV)
  • Repeatedly engages in weapons violence
  • Is in a leadership role in a gang
  • Is substantially involved in gang activity or street violence
  • Significantly facilitates gang activity or street violence

Police Department Selection

Police department selection of Eligible Individuals shall be based on relevant data that may include, as permitted by applicable law, Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI), probation records or other appropriate data. The police department shall also consider data that may be provided by EOHHS or an EOHHS-designated entity. Identification criteria, as set forth in this Grant Agreement, shall constitute a determination of the individuals’ suitability for participation in the SSYI program only, and are not intended to be used for other purposes, including court proceedings.

Back To Grants