Coalition to Fight Youth Violence

The Justice Department has announced that it is working with United Way of America to start a new effort aimed at curbing violence among children in the United States.

The formation of the “Coalition for America’s Children” was prompted by the recent violence in Jonesboro, Ark., in which two students, ages 13 and 11, opened fire at school, leaving five dead. The incident was the latest in a flurry of high-profile killings by schoolchildren in recent months.

United Way of America and the Justice Department hope to enlist additional non-profit groups, businesses, and government agencies in the campaign. Officials have not yet determined how much the project will cost or who will pay for it, but said they hope to tap private sources for most of the money.

The organizations have agreed on five goals:

* To reduce truancy by one third in 200 school districts across the country.

* To develop new programs in 200 towns and cities aimed at teaching young people safe gun handling and at keeping guns out of the hands of kids.

* To create after-school programs that will reach 100,000 kids.

* To provide anti-drug and anti-alcohol classes for 100,000 kids.

* To provide health insurance to 500,000 kids who do not have such coverage now.