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On Friday, July 21, 2006, Children's Hospital Boston will announce nearly $1 million of support designed to promote peace and prevent violence in Boston. The funds, which will be distributed to 31 groups ranging from the city of Boston to grassroots community groups, ensure that more young people will have access to safe, positive activities, including summer jobs, recreational opportunities, summer camp scholarships and youth development programs.
"Violence is not only a public safety issue, but a very real public health issue. In our role as a community hospital to the children of Boston with a mission to help prevent injury, it is imperative for Children's to take concrete steps to reduce violence in our neighborhoods," said James Mandell, MD, president and chief executive officer of Children's Hospital Boston. "We know that this package will put funding into the hands of people and groups who make a difference every day in their communities. We have spent a great deal of time seeking input from the community into strategies that work and believe that that this money will protect our children from harm."
"Mayor Menino has been an inspiration as he has advocated for all of the institutions in Boston to step up and help. We agree completely with his assertion that our whole community needs to come together to work for peace in our city, and this package of support is just one way we want to join with him, and our many community partners, to promote peace in the city of Boston."
Responding to the violence epidemic facing the city of Boston, Children's convened a group of expert physicians, nurses, social workers and other interested individuals to determine the role the hospital should play in the community to prevent and mitigate the impact of violence. Based on the internal group's findings, as well as significant input from community leaders and guidance from city, state and federal leaders, the team identified three areas where Children's could make an immediate impact. These areas included:
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