The City of Syracuse is shifting oversight…and expanding the services of a therapy program aimed at keeping at-risk teens and young adults from joining street gangs. The Mayor’s Office to Reduce Gun Violence hired Project HEAL in the summer of 2023 to provide therapy to 50 individuals with the goal of helping them with anger management and problem-solving skills. Lateef Johnson-Kinsey with the mayor’s office says On Point for College will take over where Project H.E.A.L left off, but also add other services.
“They would want to put some money into transportation and childcare," Johnson-Kinsey said. "We found out that there were individuals with children when they come to therapy, and they need someone to watch their kid. So they added some money and for childcare and a note-taking app that therapists use.”
On Point will keep the same therapists through March, when the program ends, using the remaining balance of $227,000. It’s funded by pandemic relief money.
But it can get complicated and risky providing therapy to potential gang rivals from opposite sides of town. Johnson-Kinsey says that’s another benefit of the On Point partnership.
“On Point would be using a neutral location also for therapy, something we didn't have before," Johnson-Kinsey said. "So we have a neutral location for therapy and then if it we have to have another site, we have Good Life to go to if we need to.”
Good Life Foundation is another partner of the program. Johnson-Kinsey says there have been no conflicts since the program started. Syracuse Common Councilors are expected to approve the new agreement with On Point at Tuesday's meeting.
