Additional $100 Million in Grants Available for Anti-Violence Prevention Programs Across Illinois

Westchester, Ill. – Organizations across Illinois have the opportunity to apply for an additional $100 million in grants to fund anti-violence prevention programs for their communities. This funding, which is part of the Reimagine Public Safety Act (RPSA) passed by the legislature this year, will support nonprofit organizations and local governments in 16 municipal areas outside of the City of Chicago.

"As we've watched a nationwide rise in violence, we've made it a priority to use every resource available to keep our communities safe," said House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch. "We're putting resources where they are needed and we're taking active steps to address the root causes of violence. These grants address public safety concerns in a holistic way for our communities."

In a press release earlier this week, Governor JB Pritzker announced these grants will be awarded by the Office of Firearm Violence Prevention (OFVP) and will be awarded to programs in Illinois municipalities with less than 1,000,000 residents that are disproportionately impacted by violence. The OFVP is releasing the $100 million in three new direct service Notice of Funding Opportunities, available in RPSA eligible municipalities in Greater Illinois. These include:

Violence Prevention: For programs that include street intervention, victim services, case management, and other engagement and wrap around support services for those at highest risk of harming or being harmed by gun related violence.

Trauma Informed Behavioral Health Services: For programs that include mental and behavioral health interventions that address trauma recovery and other mental health improvements, specifically to mediate the high correlation between family adversity, trauma and violence, and subsequent involvement in gun related activity.

Youth Intervention Services: For programs that include mentoring, employment skills development, life skills development, assistance with accessing education/vocational programming and employment, as well as other activities that promote positive engagement for high-risk youth ages 11-24.

"This administration is delivering historic levels of violence prevention funding to interrupt violence and keep our communities safe," said Governor JB Pritzker. "I am grateful for the thoughtful work of our Local Advisory Councils in recommending community-specific solutions that can get at the root-causes of firearm violence. This funding will support on-the-ground work from people with the community knowledge and passion necessary to make substantive change."

The Reimagine Public Safety Act is a multi-pronged approach to preventing violence in Illinois communities. It calls for research-backed services that include afterschool programs, job training, high-risk youth intervention services, trauma-informed mental health care and much more.

Organizations interested in applying are encouraged to use the free IDHS resources available at www.DHS.illinois.gov/Grants. Additional information about these grant opportunities can be found at www.dhs.illinois.gov/rpsa.