RESOLUTION NO. 220679

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RESOLUTION - Directing the City Manager to develop a funding and implementation plan for a hotline staffed with experienced and trained professionals designed to provide alternatives to individuals, especially youth, who are considering violence; and requesting a report back to the Council within sixty days.

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WHEREAS, nearly twenty percent of all Missouri high school students reported carrying a weapon to school at least once in the past thirty days; and

WHEREAS, nearly twenty-five percent of all Missouri high school students reported being in a physical fight at least once in the past thirty days; and

WHEREAS, more than forty percent of female high school students and twenty-four percent of male high school students reported feeling sad or hopeless almost every day for two weeks in the past year; and

WHEREAS, more than twenty percent of female high school students and more than thirteen percent of male high school students seriously considered suicide in the past year; and

WHEREAS, 165 youth between the ages of fourteen and nineteen lost their lives in the years 2017 to 2019; and

WHEREAS, the City of Kansas City, Missouri is not immune to violence, which has detrimental effects on physical and mental health, particularly for young persons; and

WHEREAS, a hotline staffed with experienced and trained professionals is designed to provide options for making better choices to individuals considering violence, especially youth, when faced with non-emergency conflict that could lead to future violence; and

WHEREAS, as of August 8, 2022, there have been 101 homicides in Kansas City this year, a rate of 19.9 per 100k residents; and

WHEREAS, the Council believes that violence prevention can make a lasting impact on the lives of all residents; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

Section 1. That the City Manag...

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