New gun violence prevention program coming to Milwaukee County

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Gun violence in Milwaukee has been described as an epidemic, and one that so far, is without a cure. But there is help and hope on the way.

A new gun violence prevention program, which organizers say has worked elsewhere, is coming to Milwaukee County.

Advance Peace targets the young people most likely to use gun violence and invests mentorship and other resources to alter their life trajectories. 

The county was awarded a three-year, $2 million federal grant to help fund Advance Peace. 

County leaders say if this program works on even just a few at-risk youths, it will pay for itself.

"Into next year, we're looking at the proposed rate to incarcerate a kid is over $840,000. You think about what you could do with $840,000 to serve these kids, their families here in Milwaukee County," said Kelly Pethke, DHHS. 

County officials say where Advance Peace is in place, gun violence has been reduced between 20-80% within two years of the program's launch.