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For Immediate Release
Wednesday, November 9, 2022

Contact:
Sydney Burns

Director Jackson Announces Recipients of Social-Emotional Learning and Development Grant

St. Francis Neighborhood Center has been awarded $189,400 and B-Theory has been awarded $45,000 for a grant term applicable from October 3, 2022, through June 30, 2023.

“Prevention and early intervention are key components of targeting the root causes of violence in our communities,” said Director Shantay Jackson of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement. “This means that we must invest in the social and emotional development of Baltimore’s children at as young an age as possible. From establishing school-based violence intervention programming in our high schools, to supporting restorative practices in our elementary and middle schools, to the community-based organizations dedicated to the development of our youth outside of the classroom, this administration continues to prioritize the success and promise of our young people.” 

SEL can be broadly defined as the process through which all people acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions. The two awardees qualify as organizations that support students in Baltimore City Schools to deepen their competence in these five areas:

• Self-awareness
• Self-management
• Social awareness
• Relationship skills

• Responsible decision-making

These awards are the latest in a string of announcements focused on the youth justice component of the Scott administration’s strategy to reduce gun violence in Baltimore. Last week, Mayor Brandon M. Scott announced a new partnership with LifeBridge Health's Center for Hope to help implement recommendations made through the City's Child Fatality Review Report. Mayor Scott, through MONSE, committed $500,000 annually to help support the Center for Hope's child advocacy center in its mission to care for young people and families impacted by violence. 

Additionally, last month Scott announced a partnership with Baltimore City Public Schools (City Schools) to establish school-based violence intervention pilot programs in three Baltimore City public schools including Mergenthaler Vocational Technical High School, Carver Vocational Technical High School, and Digital Harbor High School. School-based specialists will work with youth, school administrators, and families to shift community norms about the acceptability of violence, create a positive school climate, strengthen youth's problem-solving and conflict management skills and strengthen students' academic performance. This includes building interpersonal skills in communication, problem-solving, conflict resolution and management, empathy, emotional regulation management, and behavioral skills.