Youth Violence Prevention Program Funding Hangs in the Balance as Legislature Reworks State Budget

Two Virginia school divisions are teaming up to try to reduce youth involvement in gangs and violent behaviors with guns, the Virginia Mercury reports.

Roanoke and Petersburg City Public Schools are teaming up to launch the Ceasefire Pilot Program.

The goal is to reduce youth involvement in gangs and violent behaviors with guns by getting them involved in community partnerships with law enforcement and community builders.

The program will start with eighth-graders at Roanoke'sColonial Heights and Petersburg's St.

Petersburg high schools.

"We're hoping by involving ways young people that perhaps it helps," says Democratic state Sen.

Sam Rasoul, who co-authored the program legislation.

"But ultimately, we need to make sure that we make sure that our children are prepared for the real world."

The $840,000 program, which will be funded with $800,000 from the state's general education budget, will include community engagement, social-emotional exploration, and an exploration of social media.

It's unclear how the program will be expanded to other schools or grade levels.

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