Gun violence continues to rip through Mobile.
Tragedy first struck Sunday when a shooting inside a crowded downtown theater killed a 27-year-old father, described as a ‘girl dad,’ during a child’s dance recital.
Then on Wednesday, a 2-year-old boy was shot in the face while lying in bed with his parents at a home in Prichard.
The latest high-profile incidents underscore the ongoing problem with gun violence in Mobile County. One organization is hopeful that a $1 million state grant will help kickstart a program to attack the problem among at-risk youth.
The USA Health announced Wednesday that the USA Health Center for Healthy Communities has received a $1 million grant to launch a program focused on reaching court-involved and high-risk youth utilizing an evidence-based approach that treats gun violence like a preventable disease.
The initiative is being funded as part of Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey’s $4 million in statewide awards through the State Crisis Intervention Program, a national effort that is supported by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The initiative, according to USA Health, is rooted in prevention, mentorship, trauma response and community outreach.
“We know that there are root causes that increase the risk of violence, just like with the chronic diseases such as diabetes or hypertension,” said USA Health trauma surgeon Dr. Ashley Williams Hogue, who is also the director of the Center for Healthy Communities. “But with early intervention and prevention, we can change outcomes.”
Through the program, USA Health will collaborate with other community organizations including Strickland Youth Center, Lifelines Counseling, and many other community-based groups.
The program includes a hospital-based violence intervention component directed by Joshua Jones, director of the initiative with USA Health.
Specialists will provide bedside support to gun violence victims, assess risks of retaliation, and connect individuals with vital services and mentorship.
Street outreach teams will also play a role in the program by engaging youth in conflict resolution strategies, trauma recovery, and building social capital.
“We want to address these kids from a comprehensive standpoint, building a social capital, ensuring that they are connected to caring adults or individuals and involved in programs that promote pro-social activity, pro-social connection,” Jones said in a statement.
Jones said comprehensive healing is a good approach toward addressing the surge of gun violence. Mental health support is one way to address healing, he said. The program will identify areas where there is a lack of resources that “would potentially prevent” people from seeking support,” he stated.
He also urged Mobilians to be supportive of the initiative.
“I want them to understand that as we push this forward, as we engage (the public), 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,” Jones said.
The initiative from the University of South Alabama’s academic health system is one of 11 projects across Alabama receiving funding through the State Crisis Intervention Program.
The program supports mental healthcare, law enforcement training, community safety technologies, and education efforts aimed at preventing firearms from falling into the wrong hands.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) is administering the grant funds.
