The John Rex Endowment announces five grants totaling more than $2 million to support work that will increase the engagement of organizations and people in effective prevention of childhood injury in Wake County. Grant recipients include Haven House Services, UNC Healthy Solutions, UNC Highway Safety Research Center, UNC Injury Prevention Research Center and YMCA of the Triangle.

Haven House Services will receive a $51,651 grant to support a planning process to identify an intervention model that will effectively reduce physical violence in five middle schools with the goal of expanding the program to other schools.

UNC Highway Safety Research Center has been awarded a four-year grant of $764,215 to help create Safe Routes to School (SRTS) model programs at five sites in Wake County and work with municipalities and schools to promote policies to improve walking conditions and reduce child pedestrian injuries.

UNC Healthy Solutions, a team within the Department of Health Behavior at UNC Gillings 
School of Public Health, has been awarded a four-year grant of $668,268 to provide technical assistance and training to increase the capacity of Wake County organizations and practitioners to prevent childhood injury and violence prevention. Learning opportunities will focus on preventing assault, falls, motor vehicle crashes and self-harm.

UNC Injury Prevention Research Center will receive a grant in the amount of $115,810 to develop a community network of key stakeholders and create a plan to improve access to child maltreatment prevention services for Wake County families.

YMCA of the Triangle will receive a three-year grant for $458,596 to empower Wake County adults with the knowledge and skills to prevent child sexual abuse. The project will also focus on developing and providing resources to help implement policies and practices to keep children safe.

“These are investments in building strong and consistent injury prevention at a community level,” said Kevin Cain, president and CEO of the John Rex Endowment. "We are supporting an identified need to engage more people in Wake County to work together and create safe and injury-free places and spaces."

The John Rex Endowment's commitment to healthy weight, injury prevention, positive mental health and nonprofit capacity building is part of a five-year plan to focus on lasting change to shape a healthy environment for children and families in Wake County.

About the John Rex Endowment:

The John Rex Endowment supports an environment where children and families in greater Wake County live healthy lives. Guided by the belief that all children should reach their full potential, the John Rex Endowment works with the community to support the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of children. For more information, contact the Raleigh, N.C. office at 919-838-1110 or visit http://www.rexendowment.org