New DHS Grants Aim to Enhance Targeted Violence Prevention Across the U.S.

Image Credit, Homeland Security

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded $18 million in grants to law enforcement, public health agencies, and nonprofit organizations as part of the Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2024. A total of 35 grants were distributed to support local efforts aimed at preventing targeted violence and terrorism, with a focus on underserved communities.

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas emphasized the importance of local preparedness in the face of evolving threats. He remarked that these grants will enable communities to pilot and implement evidence-based strategies to bolster counterterrorism measures across the United States.

The grants are administered through DHS’s Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships (CP3), which integrates public health, behavioral, and mental health services alongside law enforcement and community organizations. This multidisciplinary approach is aimed at addressing the root causes of violence while promoting protective factors to enhance community resilience. The 2024 funding round saw an increase in public health participation, with seven organizations receiving awards, compared to two in the previous year.

Youth prevention emerged as a key priority, with 20 grantees focused on programs aimed at at-risk youth. These initiatives range from improving clinical practices to enhancing threat assessment and management tools. DHS also prioritized outreach to underserved communities, awarding eight grants to organizations working with marginalized groups, including tribal governments, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), LGBTQ+ institutions, and rural areas.

Since its inception in 2020, the TVTP Grant Program has provided nearly $90 million in funding to organizations across 41 states and the District of Columbia. The program has trained over 38,000 individuals and supported over 1,000 cases involving behavioral indicators for violence. With this latest round of funding, approximately 50 new prevention jobs have been created, further strengthening local prevention capabilities.

Looking ahead, the next round of TVTP funding is expected to be announced in spring 2025, continuing the DHS’s commitment to preventing targeted violence and terrorism at the local level.