Muskegon County in Michigan is setting the stage for a more proactive approach to youth gun violence prevention, with a newly awarded $318,812 grant from Michigan State Police. The funds, part of the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program, will be utilized by Trinity Health Muskegon to extend their SafERteens program, previously running in their Emergency Department, into the school system. Three community health workers (CHWs) will be employed to engage with at-risk students in Muskegon area schools, reported WOODTV.com.
SafERteens, which arrived at Trinity Health Muskegon in 2023, commences with a set of three critical screening questions to identify youth who may be involved in, or are at risk of, gun violence. Positive screenings prompt further conversation with a social worker or CHW to discuss the impact of gun violence and explore pathways to personal goals. As explained by Dr. Brian Stork to WZZM13, the extension to schools is critical as it's clear that "youth violence is a serious public health issue in the country and right here at home."
The program, originally developed in Flint, Michigan, with collaboration from the University of Michigan, has received commendable backing from local officials and organizations. Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. Hilson emphasized the dual approach of the program, remarking on its combination of action and support as crucial for combatting youth violence, this sentiment was echoed in a statement obtained by WGHN. The community-based intervention focuses on education and goal-setting as a means of addressing the factors contributing to youth violence.
In a demonstration of inter-organizational cooperation, the Byrne SCIP grant was submitted with input from multiple partners including Trinity Health Muskegon’s Health Project, the prosecutor's office, several police departments, and local school districts. D.J. Hilson, Muskegon County Prosecutor praised the program's capacity "to provide timely and effective support, ultimately reducing youth violence" in a statement to WGHN. Improvements in child safety, as well as holistic development in both academic and emotional realms, are intended outcomes outlined by MAISD Superintendent Randy Lindquist, who speculated that the addition of CHWs in schools will nurture student success on several fronts, according to WOODTV.com.
The grant and subsequent program expansion come in the wake of alarming statistics showing a 46 percent rise in the United States firearm death rate among children and adolescents from 2019 to 2022, as reported by WGHN. Trinity Health Muskegon President Gary Allore affirmed the initiative's impact on young patients' perspectives, expressing optimism for the program's future outreach in the Muskegon community, as detailed by WZZM13. It is hoped that SafERteens will serve as a model to other communities grappling with similar issues of youth gun violence, by fostering strong community ties, focusing on prevention, and supporting at-risk youth.
