Firearm violence has deeply harmed neighborhoods, communities, and the entire State of Illinois, both through the immediate loss of life and the long-term, harmful effects of trauma experienced by victims, witnesses, and community members. As one of its multiple funding efforts to reduce firearm violence in the most heavily impacted communities across Illinois, the IDHS-Office of Firearm Violence Prevention (OFVP) is seeking to fund youth development organizations in specific community areas across Illinois that will provide structured and unstructured programming to community youth. These programs are meant to serve youth who are the highest risk of becoming victims or perpetrators of firearm violence and should utilize evidence-informed programming and services which will improve youth outcomes and decrease risk factors associated with firearm violence.
