by KYW's Sonia Rincon
Philadelphia's gun violence problem is such an epidemic that it's caught the eye of federal health officials. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are putting more than $4 million into a brand-new prevention program.
The people with the guns that wind up hurting children were children themselves once, probably not that long ago. That's why the five-year program, called the Philadelphia Collaborative Violence Prevention Center, will target 10- to 14-year-olds.
Children's Hospital pediatrician Dr. Joel Fein says the first year will involve a lot of research on how to be the most effective:
"And there are a number of programs both sponsored by the CDC and others that we would probably need to, I wouldn't say 'retro-fit' but more 'adapt' to what West Philadelphia and South Philadelphia would require. So some of these programs that work in one area might not necessarily work in another."
But the idea is to make sure that something actually works -- and has a lasting effect after the time and money run out.
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