County health department to accept $245,337 Michigan State Police SCIP grant to fund intensive mentoring program
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Summary
The Finance Committee recommended the Board accept a $245,337 two‑year SCIP grant from the Michigan State Police to contract with community‑based organization Realism Is Loyalty for an intensive mentoring program aimed at reducing gun‑related youth violence.
The Kent County Health Department received a two‑year grant of $245,337 from the Michigan State Police under the State Crisis Intervention Program (SCIP) and the Finance Committee recommended that the full Board accept and appropriate the award to the 2025 health fund budget.
The department selected Realism Is Loyalty as the community‑based partner to deliver the Each 1 Teach 1 intensive mentoring program. Health Department staff said the program blends intensive mentoring with mental‑health services and requires both youth and caregiver participation. Program elements described at the meeting include 6–9 hours per week of direct engagement with trained mentors, weekly group activities and at least two hours of one‑on‑one mentoring therapy with a mental‑health clinician over a 36‑week cohort.
Health Department staff told commissioners the grant is intended to support violence prevention and intervention with a focus on gun violence. Staff said the program anticipates serving up to 17 youth per year (and caregiver participation for those families), for an estimated total of about 34 youth over the two‑year grant period. Referrals to the program come through open referrals, schools and word‑of‑mouth; Realism Is Loyalty staff said mentors engage in schools and outreach in the Martin Luther King and Union Street area.
Commissioner Stack asked whether the county or the State Police selected the partner; Health Department staff said the county selected Realism Is Loyalty after reviewing community programs that met grant criteria. Commissioner Sparks spoke in support of the choice, noting the group’s track record working with local partners.
Commissioner Sparks moved and Commissioner Oliver King supported the motion to recommend acceptance and appropriation of the grant; the committee approved the recommendation by voice vote. Staff noted the grant period runs 05/01/2025 through 03/31/2027 and that corporate counsel will review the agreement prior to signature.