MUSKEGON, Mich. (March 3, 2025) – In response to growing gun violence among youth, the Michigan State Police recently awarded $318,812 in funding from the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program (Byrne SCIP), through the Department of Justice, for gun violence prevention in Muskegon County. The grant will allow Trinity Health Muskegon to embed three Community Health Workers (CHWs) in school districts to work with at-risk youth through the SafERteens program.
The SafERteens program is an evidence-based intervention program implemented at Trinity Health Muskegon’s Emergency Department in May 2023. Originally developed in Flint, Michigan, in partnership with the University of Michigan and Michigan Youth Violence Prevention, the program is designed to address youth violence and increase problem recognition using encouraging interviews and goal-based discussions.
“What our county needs is action in tandem with support, and SafERteens does exactly that,” said Muskegon Country Prosecutor, D.J. Hilson. “Youth violence is a serious public health issue in the country and right here at home, so we’re focused on combatting risk factors with help from community partners.”
The grant’s purpose is to increase Trinity Health Muskegon’s capacity in reaching at-risk youth by partnering with local schools. CHWs in school districts will implement the SafERteens program and work with students and their families on other issues that may increase their risk of experiencing violence. Through the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District (MAISD), CHWs will be placed at Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System, Muskegon Public Schools, and Orchard View School District.
“As I started treating more and more youth with firearm-related injuries in the emergency room and hospital, I saw an opportunity for health care to become more actively engaged in preventing these types of injuries,” said Brian Stork, MD, Trinity Health Muskegon and Michigan Medicine West Shore Urology. “Now that we have acquired funding to implement SafERteens in our community, the next challenge is to find community partners and viable sources of funding to help make the program sustainable.”
As Dr. Stork noticed the influx of gun violence-related injuries, Patrick Carter, MD, co-director of the University of Michigan Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention, was writing a grant proposal to fund additional implementation sites for the SafERteens program. Trinity Health Muskegon became one of the sites in May 2023.
When teens come into the Emergency Department, they are asked three routine screening questions to help identify the chances that they may be involved in violence. For positive screenings, a social worker or CHW talks with the teen about how gun violence or the threat of violence impacts them. They also discuss challenges and opportunities to overcome these situations and achieve future goals.
“The addition to the SafERteens program will significantly enhance our capacity to provide timely and effective support, ultimately reducing youth violence and improving outcomes for Muskegon’s youth,” said D.J. Hilson.
“The health and safety of our students is critical to their success, and having additional support in our schools will allow Community Health Workers to address student needs, providing whole child support to help them flourish academically, as well as socially and emotionally,” said Randy Lindquist, MAISD superintendent.
The United States firearm death rate among children and adolescents increased by 46 percent from 2019 to 2022. It’s programs like SafERteens that strive to decrease this statistic and prioritize education and remediation around gun violence, which the recent grant will make a reality for more individuals.
“Trinity Health Muskegon has embraced the gun violence screening and prevention initiative, and we’ve seen a direct impact on our younger patients’ perspective and reception. Now, we look forward to seeing this grant expanding its reach and helping to create vital linkages in our community,” said Gary Allore, president of Trinity Health Muskegon, Shelby & Grand Haven.
The Byrne SCIP grant was submitted by Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. Hilson in partnership with Trinity Health Muskegon’s Health Project and several education, health and human services, and law enforcement organizations, all with Muskegon County residents’ safety at the forefront.
Community partners involved include:
- County of Muskegon – Office of the Prosecutor
- Trinity Health Muskegon
- Muskegon Community Health Project
- Muskegon Area Intermediate School District
- University of Michigan Youth Prevention
- Muskegon Public School District
- Muskegon Heights Academy
- Orchard View Public School District
- Health West
- Muskegon Police Department
- Muskegon Heights Police Department
- Muskegon Township Police Department
- Kids Safe West Michigan
- Every Voice Consulting
- Muskegon Violence Prevention youth team.
To learn more about SafERteens, visit www.firearminjury.umich.edu/saferteens/.
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