Press Release

Press Release  Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards Over $11 Million to Prevent Youth Violence

Annual Grant Program Offers New Funding for Initiatives in Public Housing
For immediate release:
12/18/2024
  • Office of Grants and Research
  • Executive Office of Public Safety and Security

Media Contact   for Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards Over $11 Million to Prevent Youth Violence

Renee Algarin, Director of Communications

Braintree — The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced funding awarded through the Charles E. Shannon Jr. Community Safety Initiative, including new funds to support violence prevention in public housing sites. The grant program is an important tool in helping communities build collaborative programs to improve safety and reduce gang activity.

“Preventing violence among young people is critical to ensuring the future wellbeing of our youth and the safety of our communities,” said Governor Maura Healey. “This work requires collaboration among law enforcement, state and local officials, youth-serving nonprofits, and research partners to help ensure funds have the greatest positive impact. The partnerships built through the Shannon Community Safety Initiative are among the strongest tools we have to prevent youth and gang-related violence in Massachusetts.”

“The lasting success of grant-funded program sites demonstrates the remarkable outcomes we can achieve when collaborating to support our youth,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Each program site has forged strong partnerships across disciplines while applying evidence-based approaches to ensure young people can access beneficial programming and essential services that enhance their wellbeing and ensure the safety of Massachusetts communities.”

The FY25 Shannon Community Safety Initiative (Shannon CSI) is a state-funded grant program that awards yearly funds to support regional, multi-disciplinary program sites that take collaborative and evidence-based approaches to reduce youth and gang violence. The funds are managed and administered by the Office of Grants and Research (OGR). A total of 15 program sites were awarded grants totaling approximately $11,179,673. Each program site will receive support from a Local Action Research Partner (LARP), which will assist with strategic planning, critical analysis and continuous feedback to support program operations and ensure that funded programs remain within scope, on schedule and within budget. Researchers interested in serving as a LARP were required to submit applications separate from the Shannon CSI program site applicants. The selected LARPs will share approximately $785,543 in additional funding.

This marks the first year the Shannon CSI has incorporated the new Housing Site Initiative, which allocates a portion of the program’s funds to support violence prevention in publicly funded housing. In accordance with the Legislative language authorizing the Shannon CSI, housing sites that have been subject to enforcement actions by the US Department of Justice were given preference for this funding.

“Youth violence significantly affects victims, their families, and entire communities. Building strong partnerships and implementing collaborative, results-oriented solutions are the most effective ways to tackle the complex issues that contribute to gun violence,” said Secretary of Public Safety and Security Terrence Reidy. “The Shannon CSI reflects the administration’s deep commitment to offering resources that support the steadfast efforts and community collaborations aimed at enhancing safety, decreasing gun violence, and fostering youth engagement.”

The Shannon CSI incorporates key elements of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) Comprehensive Gang Model. It utilizes a multi-pronged approach to gang violence prevention, which includes providing social interventions, suppressing acts of violence, providing positive opportunities, creating organizational change and mobilizing communities to prevent and reduce gang activity.

The annual grant program has been proven successful in addressing violence in communities experiencing high rates of gang activity. The program’s Statewide Research Partner (SRP), Northeastern University, earlier this year released a statewide brief as well as site-specific findings highlighting the program’s success in 2023. The SRP is also funded through Shannon CSI and is selected through a competitive application process each year. The SRP application process has not yet opened.

“This program utilizes nationally recognized best practices to support youth and communities that are impacted by gang violence. By partnering nonprofits, police, public housing officials and other local leaders with researchers and support from the Office of Grants and Research, we’ve achieved long term success preventing youth violence in Massachusetts communities,” said OGR Executive Director Kevin Stanton.

The following cities were awarded FY25 Shannon CSI funding:

Funded Program SiteTotal Award Amount (including Housing Site Initiative Funding)Housing Site Initiative Funding
Boston/Brookline$1,735,107$61,104
Brockton$775,475$26,184
Fall River$653,973---
Fitchburg/Gardner$479,882$21,184
Haverhill/Methuen$310,466---
Holyoke/Chicopee$606,446$56,599
Lawrence$299,866---
Lowell$790,957$13,334
Lynn$446,354$69,421
Metro Mayors Coalition (Braintree, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Quincy, Revere, Somerville, and Winthrop in partnership with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council)$815,703$58,404
New Bedford$1,168,615$48,434
Pittsfield$439,015$23,324
Springfield$1,247,411---
Taunton$161,352$22,009
Worcester$1,249,043---

Program sites will receive support from the following research partners, who were awarded funds through the FY25 Shannon CSI LARP program:

Local Action Research PartnerShannon Partner SiteAward Amount
Boston UniversityMetro Mayors Coalition$61,806
Bridgewater State UniversityBrockton$67,587
CERTE INC, AmherstHolyoke/Chicopee$77,550
Clark University, WorcesterWorcester$66,554
Crime and Justice Institute, BostonFall River$66,394
Kelley Research Associates, NorwellTaunton$25,200
North Shore Community College, DanversLynn$42,000
Northeastern University, BostonBoston/Brookline$66,641
Salem State UniversitySpringfield$46,475
Sean Varano, KingstonNew Bedford$43,834
UMASS Chan Med School, WorcesterFitchburg/Gardner$56,511
University of Massachusetts, LowellLowell$59,327
University of Massachusetts, LowellLawrence$36,680
University of Massachusetts, LowellHaverhill/Methuen$36,680
Westfield State UniversityPittsfield$32,300

###

Media Contact   for Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards Over $11 Million to Prevent Youth Violence

  • Office of Grants and Research 

    The Office of Grants and Research (OGR) promotes public safety and security in Massachusetts communities through the management of grants funds and research programs focused on crime prevention and intervention, traffic safety, law enforcement and homeland security initiatives. OGR manages more than $279 million in state and federal grants that are distributed to state, municipal, education and nonprofit agencies across the Commonwealth.
  • Executive Office of Public Safety and Security 

    EOPSS is responsible for the policy development and budgetary oversight of its secretariat agencies, independent programs, and several boards which aid in crime prevention, homeland security preparedness, and ensuring the safety of residents and visitors in the Commonwealth.
  • Help Us Improve Mass.gov  with your feedback

    Please do not include personal or contact information.
    Feedback