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1994.09.14 : Violence Prevention Programs

Contact: Teresa Nino    (202) 690-7470
Wednesday, Sept. 14, 1994


     $4.25 MILLION TO COLLEGES FOR VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAMS

     HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala today announced that a
consortium of 16 historically and predominantly black colleges and
universities will enter into a $4.25 million cooperative agreement
to design, develop, implement and test a series of models aimed at
reducing levels and incidence of violence, alcohol and other drug
abuse among minority individuals, families and communities.

     Each of the participating institutions will establish a family
life center on campus to implement community-based programs such as
the counseling of students and community residents and the
developing of community violence prevention activities.

     Research projects include studies on violence and dysfunctional
families, the effectiveness of police interventions in preventing
multiple incidences of spousal and child abuse, and conflict
resolution strategies in public schools.

     "As a former university chancellor, I know the value of
involving colleges and universities in solving community problems,"
Secretary Shalala said. 

      "Outside of the family and the church, historically and
predominantly black colleges and universities are perhaps the most
respected and cherished institutions in African-American
communities.  We believe that working with local communities, giving
young people something to say yes to, and demonstrating through
action that somebody cares is violence prevention at its best."

     Walter D. Broadnax, HHS deputy secretary and chief operating
officer, said, "These campus-based centers will be learning
laboratories for training the many and varied professionals we need
to bring together.  Students and faculty concerned with the violence
they see going on right outside their gates will learn to empower
their communities to heal our wounds and save our children." 
Broadnax is managing the department's efforts to support
historically black colleges and universities.

     Also speaking at the press conference where Secretary Shalala
announced the agreement, which is funded through the Office of
Minority Health in the Public Health Service, were:

     o  Congressman Louis Stokes, D-Ohio, chairman of the
Subcommittee on VA, HUD and Independent Agencies, House
Appropriations Committee, and author of legislation supporting
funding for the project.

     o  Dr. Arthur E. Thomas, president of Central State University
in Wilberforce, Ohio, and Dr. Adib A. Shakir, president of Tougaloo
College in Tougaloo, Miss., co-chairs of the Consortium for
Practicum and Research on Minority Males/Minority Males Consortium.

     o  Dr. Philip R. Lee, assistant secretary for health and
director of the Public Health Service.

     President Bill Clinton has signed an Executive Order increasing
support for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and has
referred to the important role these institutions play in a
community's development and advancement.  Today's announcement 
underscores that commitment and exemplifies HHS' aggressive plans
and support for community-based violence prevention activities.

     Other college/university presidents who attended the press
conference as members of the consortium were:

     Dr. Tilden J. LeMelle, University of the District of Columbia; 
Dr. Lois S. Williams, Knoxville College, Knoxville, Tenn.; Dr. Earl S.
Richardson, Morgan State University, Baltimore, Md.; Dr. John L.
Henderson, Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, Ohio; Dr. Dolores Cross,
Chicago State University, Illinois;

     Dr. Joann Horton, Texas Southern University, Houston; Dr. Burnett
Joiner, LeMoyne-Owen College, Memphis, Tenn.; Dr. Myer L. Titus,
Philander Smith College, North Little Rock, Ark.; and Dr. Joseph B.
Johnson, Talladega College, Talladega, Ala.

     The remaining five consortium institutions are: Clark-Atlanta
University, Atlanta, Ga., Dr. Thomas W. Cole Jr.; Lincoln
University, Lincoln University, Pa., Dr. Niara Sudarkasa; Morehouse
College, Atlanta, Ga., Dr. Leroy Keith Jr.; North Carolina A&T
College, Greensboro, N.C., Dr. Edward B. Fort; and Xavier
University, New Orleans, La., Dr. Norman C. Francis. 

     Central State University is coordinating consortium activities.

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