ROCKFORD, IL — Rockford approved spending $353,503 to fund a program designed to interrupt a cycle of violence and prevent future juvenile crime.
Called the Community Healing Center, the program based at the Irving Avenue Strong Neighborhoods House, provides trauma-informed services for Rockford youth who have seen or experienced violence.
It connects youth and their families with support, mentorship and therapeutic services meant to prevent children exposed to violence from themselves turning to crime and violence, said Jennifer Cacciapaglia, director of the Mayor’s Office of Domestic and Community Violence Prevention.
“We are trying to really create an ecosystem around our kids that exposes them to options that don’t involve violence, that provides the support they need to stay in school … and also connects them to community and mentors so that they know without question that there are people in their lives and people in this community who love and care about them,” Cacciapaglia said during a phone interview.
Cacciapaglia said that as much as 70% of juveniles who have been charged with a crime in Rockford had witnessed or been victims of domestic, sexual or community violence. The goal of the Community Healing Center program is to interrupt that cycle of violence, Cacciapaglia said.
City Council on June 15 approved money for the program from unspent American Rescue Plan Act funding. It is unclear if federal grant funding that was previously approved for the program that began in 2024 will continue. This should fund the Community Healing Center, programming and three employees from October 2026 through September 2027.
Eighty-one youth are currently enrolled in conjunction with partners like Rockford Barbell, Comprehensive Community Solutions, CITIED Foundation and Youth Services Network among others.
Programming is meant to improve decision-making and teach conflict resolution which are “key indicators linked to reduced risk-taking behavior and long-term positive outcomes for youth,” according to information from the Community Healing Center.
Jeff Kolkey writes about government, economic development and other issues for the Rockford Register Star. He can be reached via email at jkolkey@rrstar.com and on X @jeffkolkey.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford to spend $353K on youth violence prevention program
Reporting by Jeff Kolkey, Rockford Register Star / Rockford Register Star
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By Jeff Kolkey, Rockford Register Star | USA TODAY Network
