A city where youth have their basic needs met is a safer city | Opinion

The urgency to curb youth violence in Cincinnati has sparked numerous efforts, but good intentions alone aren't enough. As a licensed independent social worker overseeing programs at JustChoice, a reproductive justice organization, I wear many hats − wife, mother, and advocate for vulnerable children and teens profoundly affected by community and interpersonal violence. My mission is clear: to support families with the tools they need to thrive.

A significant part of my role involves navigating complex bureaucratic systems on behalf of families and children. From paperwork assistance to ensuring documentation is in order, and helping youth meet probation requirements despite lacking stable housing, I see firsthand the barriers our children face.

Many of the youth I work with seldom experience the joys of summer camps or recreational activities like swimming, primarily due to cost barriers. Although words like "low cost" are often used to describe some services, if these opportunities aren't free, they remain out of reach for those who need them most. For instance, the expense of everyday activities like using public pools can be prohibitive for struggling families. Despite official promises, our city frequently falls short in addressing the bureaucratic red tape and systemic gaps that hinder these children daily.

It's crucial that our response to youth violence goes beyond reaction − it must tackle root causes. Key to this is nurturing meaningful relationships. Instead of solely encountering law enforcement after making mistakes, youth deserve recognition and support that affirms their value. These relationships provide essential support, love, hope, and healing, offering youth the desperately needed stability. We must invest in programs that prioritize relationships − giving youth a network of supporting adults, neighbors and community members who not only can be a mentor, but a safe person to call in a crisis.

Unfortunately, one of the most important issues youth in Cincinnati are facing is a lack of access to the most basic needs. From a lack of housing to food instability, many youth are facing the most challenging experiences imaginable and have to navigate that alone. It’s a critical oversight if our efforts to curtail violence don’t include providing resources for youth. When basic survival needs aren’t met, people are put in dangerous situations. Their struggles often go unnoticed, contributing to ongoing challenges. We need more adults, with loving homes to open their doors to youth in need through hosting programs like JustChoice's.

Access to opportunities is also a significant issue. Employment programs are slow to respond, and safe community spaces are scarce and overly policed or too costly. Engaging the most vulnerable youth requires deliberate action.

While we may want to applaud ourselves for various programs, their impact must be rigorously evaluated. Expensive camps and stringent eligibility criteria often exclude children from low-income families. Remember − if it’s not free, it’s not accessible. Similarly, summer job programs frequently fall short, whether not being fully funded or fully supported − leaving motivated youth without viable options.

We as a city must ask ourselves, in our initiatives to curtail violence, are we genuinely tackling the underlying causes of crime and delivering effective solutions, or are they merely superficial attempts to boost statistics? Who is actually benefiting from these programs?

Addressing these systemic issues demands reevaluating government, corporate, and law enforcement priorities to prioritize community-centered initiatives. From the work that I do on a regular basis, I know that a community where every youth has their basic needs met is a safer city. If we want to prevent violence, we must ensure that everyone has equitable access to essential programs.

Our efforts to address youth violence must be substantive and holistic, centered on fostering supportive relationships and meeting basic needs. Only then can we create a city where every child has the opportunity to thrive.

Laura Sullivan is the chief program officer of JustChoice in Northside.