The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded 35 grants totaling $18 million under the Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2024. The program aims to develop sustainable, multidisciplinary prevention capabilities in local communities, pilot innovative approaches, and identify best practices that can be replicated nationwide.
"In our current dynamic threat environment, any town, anywhere can be a target,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “The Department of Homeland Security’s Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention grant awards announced today will help local communities pilot, strengthen, and share evidence-based prevention strategies, significantly expanding our nation’s counterterrorism capacity and making all of us safer.”
The Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships (CP3) employs a public health-informed approach by collaborating with behavioral and mental health providers, educators, faith leaders, social service providers, nonprofits, law enforcement agencies, and other partners to address systemic factors leading to violence while strengthening protective factors at the local level. This focus has resulted in an increase in public health organizations applying for the grant program. In FY24, 35 public health entities applied with seven selected compared to three applicants and two awardees in FY23.
Public health organizations receiving awards include Boston Children’s Hospital; Indiana Family and Social Services Administration's Division of Mental Health and Addiction; Oakland Community Health Network; Parents for Peace; Rhode Island Department of Health; Safe States Alliance; University of Nebraska Medical Center; Weber-Morgan Health Department; Wood County Alcohol Drug Addiction Mental Service Board.
Given concerns about youth involvement in targeted violence nationally, CP3 selected 20 grantees focused on prevention in youth settings. These include improving clinical practice with at-risk youth (Boston Children’s Hospital) and enhancing behavioral threat assessment tools (Safe States Alliance). Awardees include Auburn University; Board of Regents Nevada System of Higher Education; Boston Children’s Hospital; Dillard University; Elizabeth City State University; Green River Educational Cooperative; Independent Production Fund; Indiana Family and Social Services Administration's Division of Mental Health and Addiction; Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh; North Carolina State University; Rhode Island Department of Health; Safe States Alliance School Administrative Unit #18 Southern University Southern Illinois University The Research Foundation for the State University of New York on behalf of the Rockefeller Institute of Government The Research Foundation for the State University of New York on behalf of the University at Buffalo Trustees of Indiana University University Of Southern Maine Weber-Morgan Health Department.
DHS prioritizes targeted violence prevention in underserved communities. This year saw 39 applications from or proposing work with underserved communities. CP3 awarded eight grants providing services to these populations including one tribal government three Historically Black Colleges And Universities (HBCUs), one LGBTQ+ serving institution one organization serving religious minorities two organizations serving rural communities Awardees include Centerlink Dillard University Elizabeth City State University Green River Educational Cooperative Indiana Family And Social Services Administration's Division Of Mental Health And Addiction Jewish Federation Of Greater Pittsburgh Otoe-Missouria Tribe Southern university
CP3's financial technical assistance helps grow TVTP community practice FY24 awards created approximately 50 new prevention jobs besides dozens existing positions partially fully funded by these awards Launched 2020 administered DHS CP3 Federal Emergency Management Agency FEMA only federal grant program solely dedicated helping local communities develop strengthen targeted violence terrorism prevention capabilities this area DHS awarded nearly $90 million via178 awards organizations working prevent violence41 states plus District Columbia To date TVTP grant programs conducted training sessions built prevention capacity among38 250 attendees funded projects directly address manage cases involving individuals behavioral indicators violence As August2024 grantees FY20-FY23 opened1 172 cases referred partners provided direct mental health counseling social services other services increase protective factors clients anticipated next round TVTP grant funding announced spring2025 Additional information about current previous TVTP grantees such programs tools resources accomplishments closeout reports award grants more found TVTP Grant Program webpage These resources support prevention practitioners advancing their work reaffirm DHS commitment transparency
