Governance Council on Children, Youth & Families

The Governance Council on Children, Youth and Families vision is to create equitable policies and systems that work together to promote health, safety, healing and social emotional wellbeing for children, youth and families in Worcester.

Our mission is to leverage our collective power to achieve equity from the start and through childhood, adolescence and adulthood in Worcester through policy, advocacy, funding and strategic decision making.

2024 Youth Violence Assessment

The WYVPI formed in response to a gang and youth violence assessment and citywide strategic planning process that engaged hundreds of youth, adult residents, and other stakeholders from fall 2013 through spring 2015. The assessment identified the following as significant drivers of youth violence in Worcester: family stress; unemployment; early childhood trauma; generational cycles of gang involvement; limited neighborhood recreation opportunities; and punitive school discipline. During the assessment period, youth violence spiked. This difficult reality sparked a sense of urgency among city leadership to identify solutions to this complex, multi-faceted problem.

View the 2024 Youth Violence Assessment

Who We Are

Chairs

Mayor Joseph Petty & City Manager Eric D. Batista

Lead Facilitator

Leah Maroney, City of Worcester Health & Human Services

Operations Team

Clark University
City Manager's Office
Coalition for a Healthy Greater Worcester
Division of Youth Opportunities
Together for Kids Coalition
Worcester DA's Office
Worcester Division of Public Health
Worcester Police Department
Worcester Public Schools
Worcester Youth Violence Prevention Initiative

Council Members

City Leadership:

Commissioner of Health & Human Services
Commissioner of Public Works
Fire Chief
Interim Police Chief
Superintendent of Public Schools
Worcester Housing Authority

Regional/State Leadership:

Chief of Juvenile Probation
Clerk Magistrate
DCF Central Regional Director
DYS/JDAI
Worcester District Attorney

Our Coalitions

Coalition for a Healthy Greater Worcester
Mission is to promote the shared learning, reflection and broad engagement that improves community decision-making, health and well-being for residents of Greater Worcester.

Together for Kids Coalition
At ages one, three and five, every Worcester child thrives! Collective mission is to promote the social-emotional well-being and general health of young children (prenatal through eight) and families in Worcester.