A proposed California bill, the Thrive Act, would establish pilot programs offering mental health services to young gun violence survivors under 25. Sponsored by Youth Alive and Californians for Safety and Justice, the legislation responds to a critical gap: three in five children nationally do not receive mental healthcare after a firearm injury.
Assemblymember Sade Elhawary coauthored the bill after a mass shooting at a child's birthday party in Stockton left four dead and 11 injured. The pilot would target Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Solano, and Alameda counties, which have high gun death rates. Counselors say trauma, including PTSD, anxiety, and hyper-vigilance, often goes untreated, particularly in Black and Latino communities. Without support, survivors may face cycles of retaliation, advocates warn.
Marvin Pérez, 25, was shot in Oakland two years ago. The bullet remains lodged in his leg, but the mental toll was worse: nightmares and isolation. He found relief through Youth Alive, which provided counseling. “It was a turning point,” he said, and now supports the bill.
The legislation recently passed the assembly and is under Senate review, but securing millions in funding remains the primary challenge.