…Under a plan to address youth crime, the city approved $2.5 million to help fund the proposed $62.5 million Katie Blessing Center, a youth behavioral care facility in northwest Charlotte. An additional $41.5 million is coming from the Katie Blessing Foundation.

Mecklenburg County Commissioners also approved $2 million to support the Katie Blessing Center on June 5 as part of the $2.5 billion budget for FY25.

Youth crime is up, but mental health services could help reduce the growing number of incidents involving young people, Shawn Heath, an assistant city manager, said during a presentation to city council members on June 10.

Johnson said she believes the majority of youth involved in the juvenile justice system have experienced mental health concerns.

In the first quarter of this year, youth suspects were responsible for 21 shootings, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

“The need is real,” Heath said regarding mental health services for young people during the June 10 presentation.

“It’s exciting to address this proactively,”  Johnson said…

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