Sioux Falls youth violence intervention program suspended amid federal funding freeze

USA Today

28-01-2025

Sioux Falls youth violence intervention program suspended amid federal funding freeze
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White House responds to pause in federal grants and loans
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to questions surrounding the Trump administrations pause in federal grants and loans.
The Compass Center in Sioux Falls is suspending its Youth Violence Intervention and Prevention (YVIP) program effective immediately amid a pause on federal grants that President Donald Trump ordered late Monday to give his administration time to review whether they fit his priorities.
The YVIP is a 'youth-led, community-based initiative working to eliminate violence among middle and high school youth (ages 12-17) in the Sioux Falls metro area,' according to The Compass Center website. The Compass Center relies on federal funding for 40% to 50% of its overall budget, Executive Director Michelle Trent said.
'This year it's closer to the 60% with all of our federal funds,' Trent said. 'And so a significant portion of our budget is made up of federal dollars.'
The freeze went into effect at 4 p.m. Tuesday though several states sued to block the order.
The memo ordering the freeze does not specify which grant-making agencies must abide by the order, but the Office of Management and Budget has broad power over the executive branch that touches nearly every agency. The sweeping announcement triggered widespread confusion and panic among government bureaucrats and everyday Americans scrambling to figure out the implications.
The government later clarified it doesn't affect Pell Grants, which are government subsidies that help low-income students pay for college, Social Security payments, Medicaid or food stamps — assistance that is going directly to individuals.
"This is not a blanket pause on federal assistance and grant programs from the Trump administration," said Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, during a briefing Tuesday afternoon. "The reason for this is to ensure that every penny that is going out the door is not conflicting with the executive orders and actions that this president has taken."
Youth violence has become a growing problem in Sioux Falls. In early December, 18-year-old Jaden Bingham fired a gun in the Empire Mall, causing the mall to be placed under lockdown status for nearly two hours, according to previous reporting from the Argus Leader.
After the shooting, Sioux Falls Police Department Police Chief Jon Thum called on the Sioux Falls community to aid in 'mentoring' youth. While the federal fund freeze does not affect SFPD, police were 'excited' about the prospect of working with The Compass Center on the YVIP program, Sioux Falls Police Department spokesperson Sam Clemens said in an email to the Argus Leader.
'We recognize the greater need and urgency in mentorship with youth in Sioux Falls. Mentors can have a dramatic impact on the lives of youth,' Clemens said. 'This is not something that can be left for other people to do. We want everyone to get involved and volunteer your time to make a difference with today's youth which will make a difference in our community for years to come.'
The YVIP program serves Minnehaha, Lincoln, Turner and McCook counties, according to the website, and collaborates with 35 community partners to serve youth in the area, Trent said.
Teens in the YVIP program experience 'immersive training sessions' and engage in peer education and impact events to gain the knowledge and skills to prevent 'relational and sexual violence, sexual harassment, dating violence, and bullying,' according to the website.
While the YVIP is the only program currently suspended at The Compass Center, several other programs are in jeopardy, Trent said. This includes programs that offer walk-in care for victims of violence, programs that help victims with court-related processes, and crisis counseling services.
The Compass Center is the only rape crisis center in South Dakota, Trent said, and those services are at risk, too.
Trent said the freeze 'feels very out of the blue and sudden, and with minimal preparation or minimal answers.'
Trent said The Compass Center was 'heightened to changes in federal funding' before the freeze went into effect primarily because she believes topics such as family, sexual and relationship violence are often things people don't want to talk about.
'I think this is a great time for our community and our state and our nation to step up and say, 'These are important services for the people that live in our community, in our society, and so we're going to fight for them,'' Trent said.
USA Today contributed to this report.