Federal grants would support youth violence prevention programs

The Secretary of Health and Human Services would award five-year grants to eligible partnerships for school and community violence prevention programs. Each applicant partnership must include a state education agency coordinating with local education agencies, and at least one community nonprofit serving their youth or families. The local area must meet one of the listed violence or injury tests in at least two of the previous three years, or show a unique and compelling need for more resources to address youth gun violence. The bill authorizes $25 million for each fiscal year from 2025 through 2031, but Congress would still need to provide the money. The Secretary may renew grants. Each grant would last five years and could be renewed. The bill authorizes funding for fiscal years 2025 through 2031.

Grant-funded programs would use proven, culturally aware, trauma-informed approaches to prevent youth violence. Programs would focus on youth at highest risk of involvement in gun violence in local communities and schools, including Bureau of Indian Education schools. Programs may support students in kindergarten through grade 12 or youth under 19. Grant activities may also train school staff, connect local partners, and provide technical help to schools and nonprofits.

The health secretary and the education research director would evaluate grant programs and report results to Congress. The evaluation would cover programs receiving grants under this section. Independent evaluations of selected programs would be made public online. Grantees would report program results during the second and final academic years of each grant period. The health secretary may reserve up to 5 percent of available funds for independent researchers; grantees may use up to 20 percent of their grant for evaluation. Grantees would report by the end of the second and final academic years of each grant. Federal officials would report to Congress at least once every three years.