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Council accepts $2.19 million SSYI grant to fund youth intervention services
Summary
The council accepted a three-year SSYI (Safe & Successful Youth Initiative) grant totaling about $2.19 million that funds intervention services for 17–24‑year‑olds at high risk of involvement in shootings and gang activity; the city partners include Roca, the sheriff’s department and health partners.
Springfield City Council accepted an FY26 Safe and Successful Youth Initiative (SSYI) grant increase totaling $2,189,700 on July 14. The three‑year grant is level‑funded at about $729,900 per year and supports a multi‑agency youth intervention program focused on high‑risk 17–24‑year‑olds.
Program structure and partners: Anthony Falvo, the city’s liaison for the program, said SSYI requires a lead agency and mandated partners including a behavioral‑health provider, an education partner and an employment partner. He identified Roca as the lead agency, the county sheriff’s department as a primary partner that accepts clients, Clinical & Support Options as the behavioral-health partner and the MassHire regional employment board for employment services. Falvo said University of Massachusetts Medical Center supports data collection and that the program is data driven, with UMass Medical Center analyzing outcomes.
How participants are referred: Falvo said referrals come from police units, jail and outreach work; the program operates an in‑reach model and works with people before they are released from custody so services connect immediately after release. He described the program as one of the state’s more effective SSYI efforts, and told councilors he would circulate a fuller report to members.
Why it matters: The grant supports targeted intervention for young people at high risk of violent reoffending and funds staff across police and nonprofit partners. Councilors praised the program and asked for data on outcomes; Falvo said he would distribute a presentation and program report.
Next steps: Staff will implement the grant across the partners and return periodic performance updates to the council.
