USA awarded $1 million grant for program to reach court-affiliated youth

MOBILE, Ala. (WPMI) — The University of South Alabama received a grant aimed at reducing gun violence in Alabama communities.

The $1 million grant will allow USA to establish a program to reach kids who are at risk of committing crimes and gun violence in Mobile County. The program uses a public health approach and treats violence in our communities like a disease.

“We know that there are etiologies or root causes that put people at higher risk for experiencing violence, just like things can put you at higher risk for the development of diabetes or hypertension, but there are treatments. The best treatment is prevention. That is really what we are focused on, is preventing these experiences, these occurrences from ever happening,” said Dr. Ashley Williams with USA Health.

Williams says the hospital has a program to help mentor and build relationships with youth who have experienced violence. There is also a hospital-based violence intervention program that Williams says allows USA Health to provide resources to gun violence victims.

Joshua Jones is the director of the hospital-based violence intervention program.

“What we want to do is we want to address these kids from a comprehensive standpoint, building social capital, ensuring that they are connected to caring adults or individuals and involved in programs that promote pro-social activity, pro-social connection,” he said.

Jones says violence intervention specialists will respond to gun violence victims at their bedside to identify any needs they may have, but they also identify if there is a possibility of retaliation. That is where the street outreach members step in and provide conflict resolution and de-escalation tactics.

“From establishing the common language when we talk about trauma, to building the social capital of the individuals and then connecting a community, we can address this person not just from a physical standpoint, but from a socio-emotional, but then also a connected aspect,” said Jones.

Jones says he wants people in the community to understand that we all have a part to play in preventing gun violence.

“You have a part to play in ensuring that our next generation does not go down this route. You have a part to play in ensuring that an innocent bystander from Montgomery, Alabama is not a victim of a crime, right here in our community. I want them to understand that as we push this forward, as we engage them, whether it's through surveys, whether it's through activities, whether it's through community events, make sure that you are a part of this solution as much as anybody else,” said Jones.