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County funds Think Make Live’s ‘Guns Down’ program with $100,000 to expand school‑based intervention
Summary
Job and Family Services presented a $100,000 award to Think Make Live Youth to expand the Guns Down intervention for students ages 14–18; participants and program leaders described job placements, trauma‑informed supports, and upcoming expansion into juvenile facilities.
Franklin County commissioners approved a $100,000 support agreement on Feb. 18 with Think Make Live Youth to fund the Guns Down program, a school‑based intervention for students ages 14–18 aimed at reducing youth gun violence.
Carmen Barnes, assistant director for Job and Family Services, said the prior award served 30 students and the new funding will enable the program to serve a minimum of 50 students. Terry Green, founder and CEO of Think Make Live, described program components—weekly in‑school meetings, life‑skills planning and opportunities to meet elected officials—and said the program has placed participants in jobs and helped young people secure expungements through a related UP program.
Participant Hayden Thompson told commissioners the program “helped me get a job” and kept violence out of his life. Program staff said they are expanding partnerships with juvenile courts and detention facilities to deliver programming inside juvenile detention and to work with judges on transition supports.
The commissioners adopted resolution 12225. County leaders highlighted the program as part of larger efforts to promote mental‑health parity and youth supports and invited program leaders to participate in upcoming youth mental‑health convenings.
