Latest news with #YouthViolenceInterventionandPrevention
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nonprofits in shock as White House looks to halt grant funding
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Tuesday, the federal government tried to pause all federal grants and loans. However, a federal judge has temporarily blocked a Trump administration freeze that had local nonprofits and small businesses looking for answers. The White House freeze will put trillions of dollars in limbo, affecting everything from health care research to money for charities. Small businesses and state government programs are bracing to temporarily go without government funds. 10 Commandments in school bill narrowly passes Senate According to a memo from the Executive Office of the President, during the pause, federal agencies will take a closer look at where the money is going. And to make sure it supports the President's priorities, which include ending 'wokeness' and making the government more efficient. Emily's Hope, a nonprofit started and run by Angela Kennecke, relies on donations and grant money to complete its mission of saving lives and removing the stigma of substance use disorder. 'We know we have to have programs in place to reduce substance use. And this is bipartisan this isn't something that is Democrat or Republican this is something to save our kids and it's needed and we want to do it we have the ideas in place, but we have to have the funding,' said Kennecke. Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota was visibly upset about the freeze and called it an unconstitutional power grab. 'As we stand here today, people should think about the mom who doesn't know if she can get her kid to child care today. Or they should think about the teenager in a cancer study hoping by on hope that that's going to save his life. Or they should think about the people from Minnesota when last week, on the day of that inauguration, it was minus six degrees, who depend on heating assistance,' said says freezing the grants has sent shockwaves through the nonprofit of nonprofits in South Dakota expect to feel the impact. For instance, the Compass Center in Sioux Falls, which provides support for survivors of sexual and domestic violence, is stopping its Youth Violence Intervention and Prevention program. Kennecke says she has talked with the leaders of other nonprofits and there is a lot of confusion. 'We've had a webinar canceled that was going to help guide us on some of the logistics of this grant that has been canceled so I just think as I said there are more questions than answers and that is a difficult place to be as a nonprofit that goes day by day with funding,' said Kennecke. A U.S. District Judge blocked the freeze by the Trump Administration late Tuesday afternoon, minutes before it was set to go into effect. There will be another hearing on Monday. In its lawsuit, the National Council of NonProfits says the Trump Administration is at liberty to advance its priorities, but it must do so within the confines of the law. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
28-01-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Sioux Falls youth violence intervention program suspended amid federal funding freeze
Sioux Falls youth violence intervention program suspended amid federal funding freeze Show Caption Hide Caption 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.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Compass Center suspends youth violence program amid federal pause
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – The White House is pausing federal grants and loans as President Donald Trump`s administration begins an across-the-board ideological review of its spending. Tribes issuing free ID cards amid ICE raids The pause is already causing disruption for many nonprofits in South Dakota. The Compass Center, a provider of crisis intervention and violence prevention services, announced an immediate impact will be stopping the Youth Violence Intervention and Prevention program. 'This isn't just about funding—it's about people's lives,' Michelle Trent, Executive Director of The Compass Center, said in a news release. 'Every day, our services help prevent violence, support survivors, and build a safer community. Any disruption to these services puts our most vulnerable community members at risk.' The Compass Center says there are potential disruptions to other crisis response services and risk to ongoing victim support services for as long as the federal pause remains. The funding freeze takes effect at 4 p.m. Tuesday. The decision could cause widespread disruption in health care research, education programs and other initiatives. Even grants that have been awarded but not spent are supposed to be halted. It's unclear how sweeping the pause will be. Democrats like Minnesota's U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar say Congress approved the grants and the President's move is unconstitutional. 'Last night, in defiance of federal law, Donald Trump made the decision to stop Federal funding which as my colleagues have pointed out, could impact everything and will impact everything from small businesses to local law enforcement to child care,' Klobbuchar said during a news conference. KELOLAND News is exploring how the order will impact nonprofits in KELOLAND and will bring you on-air and online Tuesday night. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
