Elizabeth City, N.C. — Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) has been awarded $451,878 in federal funding through the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2024. This grant positions ECSU among 35 recipients nationwide, sharing $18 million in grants to enhance local communities' capabilities to prevent targeted violence and terrorism.
"In our current dynamic threat environment, any town, anywhere, can be a target," said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas, noting the urgency of ECSU's work.
DHS's TVTP Grant Program seeks to develop new prevention strategies by partnering with diverse stakeholders. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, "Leveraging a public health-informed approach, the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships (CP3) brings together behavioral and mental health providers, educators, faith leaders, social service providers, nonprofits, law enforcement and other state, local, and community partners to address systemic factors that can lead to violence."
ECSU will focus its grant on youth-targeted violence prevention, a critical area of concern in today's threat climate.
Because of a national concern for youth involvement in targeted violence, CP3 selected 20 grantees focused on prevention in youth settings. ECSU was among those selected to improve clinical practice with at-risk youth and provide threat assessment and management tools for at-risk youth.
The DHS also prioritizes underserved communities. In this area of homeland security, ECSU is among three Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) selected for the grant who propose to work with underserved communities. The initiative will allow ECSU to work closely with local partners and experts to strengthen protective factors and enhance community resilience in northeastern North Carolina.
The grant is part of DHS's efforts to not only reach underserved populations but also to create duplicate models of prevention nationwide. The next round of TVTP grants is expected to be announced in 2025 as the department continues to build a national framework to prevent violence before it occurs.
For more information on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24), click here.