Sandy Hook Promise to Partner with Awardees to Create Safer Schools
Newtown, CT — Last week, the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) announced 130 schools, districts, and other jurisdictions will receive federal funding to expand violence prevention in schools. These awards, made possible through the 2018 STOP School Violence Act, will provide more than $87 million to expand access to proven early intervention programming to prevent future school shootings, youth suicides, and other forms of school violence and victimization.
“We are excited to see so many states and school districts that are committed, like us, to preventing shootings, violence, and other harmful acts in schools. This crucial funding allocated by the STOP School Violence Act will help ensure many more students get help when they need it, making school communities safer and more connected,” said Mark Barden, co-founder and managing director of Sandy Hook Promise, and father of Daniel who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy.
The STOP School Violence Act was introduced in the House of Representatives before the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School to build off the research and lessons learned from Sandy Hook and other tragic shootings. The legislation aims to scale proven, evidence-based early intervention programming for schools across the country to prevent future school shootings, suicides, and other forms of school violence. Sandy Hook Promise proudly worked with Republicans and Democrats to pass the STOP School Violence Act of 2018 as part of the FY2018 omnibus funding bill. Since its passage, Sandy Hook Promise has worked with Congress to increase appropriations to support evidence-based violence prevention programming, from $50 million in FY2018 to $75 million in FY2020 and total funding for the STOP School Violence Act from $75 million to $125 million over the same period.
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About Sandy Hook Promise: Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) is a national nonprofit organization with a mission to end school shootings and create a culture change that prevents violence and other harmful acts that hurt children. Through its life-saving, evidence-informed Know the Signs prevention programs, SHP educates and empowers youth and adults to recognize, intervene, and get help for individuals who may be socially isolated and/or at risk of hurting themselves or others. SHP is a moderate, bipartisan organization that supports sensible policy solutions that address the human side of gun violence and make schools safer. SHP is led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.
Media Contact:
Aimee Thunberg | [email protected] | 646-761-5579