The city of Oakland got some good news recently when it learned it will receive $3 million in violence prevention grants from the federal government, thanks, in part, to the success of Measure Y, officials said.

Specifically, Oakland will receive two grant awards and a third partnership grant with Alameda County Probation.

According to Sara Bedford, Policy and Planning Manager for the Oakland Department of Human Services, the grants were given to the city because the federal government recognized the success of Measure Y programs.

“With Measure Y, we’ve been allowed to do some complex work and now these federal funds will allow us to step it up,” Bedford said.

The first grant announced last week, a Community-Based Violence Prevention Demonstration grant, is a three-year award from the federal government for $2.2 million.

Bedford said Oakland is one of only four cities in the nation to receive this prestigious grant.

The federal money will help the city do street outreach, case management and crisis response, among other things, in preventing or stemming street violence, particularly gang violence. The money also will be used to work on violence prevention messaging to high-risk young people through public education.

The second grant called, “A Second Chance Act Juvenile Offender Reentry Demonstration” will be for $750,000 for one year and builds on the Measure Y juvenile justice center strategy that helps Oakland youth reconnect with school immediately upon release from juvenile detention.

Both the $2.2 million grant and the second grant for $750,000 utilizes partnerships with a number of local organizations, including city of Oakland's Department of Human Services, Alameda County Health Care Services Agency, Oakland Unified School District, Alameda County Probation and the Alameda County Office of Education.
Bedford said a key component for tackling systemic violence in some communities is bringing a strong anti-violence message.

“With these grants, there is really a strong emphasis on developing community messaging and engaging the community in anti-violence measures, and we think that’s very important,” she said.

The Department of Justice is providing the third and final grant, of $750,000, for one year to help support young men and women returning home from jail. This allows for the city of Oakland's Department of Human Services to expand the Measure Y-funded Project Choice program, providing intensive reentry coaching and employment supports for young men and women returning home from Santa Rita jail.

“These grants are a great opportunity to do really great, long-term positive work,” Bedford said. “We’re definitely happy here.”