A group of organizations and non-profits is seeking to implement a program that would cut down on violence among the youth in Myrtle Beach.

Members of Myrtle Beach City Council learned about "Reaching through the Cracks: Implementing the Youth Violence Reduction Partnership" during a meeting Tuesday. In order for the YVRP to be successful, a partnership would be required between public agencies and community organizations like the county solicitor, family courts, drug and alcohol treatment centers, and the Myrtle Beach Police Department.

It's mission is to break the cycle of violence and crime by connecting kids and young adults to resources through prevention, intervention, provisional opportunities and suppression. "We hope for the city to impact and change the lives of some of our residents here in these communities and to let them know there is hope and there are opportunities out there," Reverend Timothy McCray, Rehoboth CDC, said.

YVRP would target at risk youth ages 13 to 25 and non-violent offenders seeking community reentry.

The program would also help parents. "We're looking to bring all the resources to support those kids that are struggling or in families, not just for the child, but for the parent. Provide parent resource centers and partner up with the schools and higher educational systems to begin to see how we can start to have a bridge the gap program here and really take a look at how we can end violence taking place in our communities," Rev. McCray said.

Horry County Police Captain Saundra Rhodes, Dr. Tom Reid with the Carolina Human Reinvestment Corporation and three Myrtle Beach young adults presented to the council the importance and need for a violence reduction program in the city.

Council members still had several questions that would need more detailed answers, but Rev. McCray said the meeting was about the positive start of something that would eventually be extremely beneficial to the community.

Do you think a program like this is needed?