Montgomery County will receive $530,000 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to develop violence prevention programs focused on protecting LGTQ+ youth.
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Representatives Jamie Raskin and David Trone announced that the federal dollars come from the Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention grant program.
The grant also will focus on ridding the negative mental health outcomes faced by LGBTQ+ youth in the county and in Washington, D.C.
The program will provide in-school support and resilience programming for LGBTQ+ youth, training for school staff and youth providers and support for parents and caregivers.
“The rise of targeted violence against LGBTQ+ communities demands additional investments to protect young people at risk. We know that education and training have the power to provide much-needed tools to counter hate and bias,” the legislators said in a joint news release.
“Funding for these education programs and in-school supports will help expand resources so all Marylanders can feel safe in school and their communities.” the legislators explained.
