Cohen Announces $850,000 to Fight Youth Violence

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today announced an $856,363 federal grant to help the Shelby County Board of Education address and reduce youth violence and violence in schools. This funding comes through the U.S. Department of Education’s Project Prevent grant program, which is focused on expanding the capacity of local education agencies to address youth violence and violence in schools.

“As we have recently witnessed, we must do more to address and prevent youth violence in Memphis,” said Congressman Cohen. “This funding will go a long way towards helping our schools better respond to violence on school grounds, prevent additional instances, and keep our communities safe.”

Today’s announcement is part of more than $2 million in Project Prevent funding announced statewide today. The Project Prevent program funds projects that offer students: access to school-based counseling services (or referrals to community-based counseling services) for assistance in coping with trauma or anxiety, school-based social and emotional supports for students to help address the effects of violence, conflict resolution and other school-based strategies to prevent future violence, and a safer and improved school environment including activities to decrease the incidence of harassment, bullying, violence, gang involvement, and substance abuse.