OFSVP Firearm Violence Prevention Program Report (October 1, 2023)
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- 2023 Commercereports Ofsvp Firearm Violence Prevention Program Leg Reportfi
Summary
A report to the Legislature by the Washington State Department of Commerce's Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention (OFSVP), dated October 1, 2023, submitted pursuant to ESSB 5693(128)(110), Chapter 297, Laws of 2022. It summarizes firearm violence intervention programs funded and evaluated by OFSVP during fiscal year 2023 (July 1, 2022- June 30, 2023). It quotes the budget proviso and lists grant amounts, including $450,000 to the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office for its shots fired social network analysis work and $378,630 to Harborview Medical Center. The report describes each program's outcomes and challenges, including referrals under the King County Shots Fired Grant. It closes with evaluation findings and program provider recommendations for future Community Violence Intervention funding.
Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used
Cite this document
“OFSVP Firearm Violence Prevention Program Report (October 1, 2023).”
Original at app.leg.wa.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/2023-commercereports-ofsvp-firearm-violence-prevention-program-leg-reportfi/
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OFSVP Firearm Violence
Prevention Program Report
Report pursuant to ESSB 5693(128)(110), Chapter 297, Laws of
2022 (state fiscal year 2023 supplemental operating budget)
October 1, 2023
OFFICE OF FIREARM SA
FETY AND VIOLE
NCE Report to the Legis lature
PREVENTION/COMMUNITYSAFETYUNIT
Director Mike Fong
v3.4
Washington State Department of Commerce
Cindy Guertin-Anderson, Assistant Director
Community Services Division
Kate Kelly, Executive Director
Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention
Phone: 360-628-6846
1011 Plum St. SE
P.O. Box 42525
Olympia, WA 98504-2525
www.commerce.wa.gov
For people with disabilities, this report is available on
request in other formats. To submit a request, please
call 360-725-4000 (TTY 360-586-0772)
YOUT H VIOLENCE INT ERVENT ION GRANT P ROGRAM REPORT 2
2.0
Table of Contents
Executive Summary ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 4
Introduction ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................. 5
King County Shots Fired Grant ESSB 5693(128)(110)(a)................................ ................................ ............... 6
Violence Intervention Grants ESSB 5693(128)(110)(b) ................................ ................................ ................. 7
Technical Assistance and Training Support ................................ ................................ ................................ 11
Evaluation of Youth Firearm Viol ence Intervention Programs ................................ ................................ ...... 11
YOUT H VIOLENCE INT ERVENT ION GRANT P ROGRAM REPORT 3
Executive summary
Overview
In 2020, the Legislature created the Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention (OFSVP) inthe
Department of Commerce (Commerce). One of the roles of OFSVP isto support and coordinate the
implementation of evidence -based firearm violence intervention programs across the state.
Since it was launched in 2021, OFSVPhas distributed funds in commu nities throughout Washington to support
local efforts to prevent and intervene in firearm violence. We prioritize investment s in underserved, historically
disadvantaged, and vulnerable communities while building violence prevention and intervention capacity
through engagement, outreach, and technical assistance. We use data validated by community partners and
researchers to inform funding decisions.
This report summarizes the outcomes and evaluation of the firearm violence intervention programs funded,
supported, and evaluated by OFSVP during fiscal year 2023 (July 1, 2022- June 30, 2023).
Funding summary
At the governor's request, the Legislature provided OFSVP with a significant increase in funding to support
firearm violence intervention, prevention, and planning grants throughout the s tate 1 . One s ection of the budget
directed OFSVP to fund s ervices res ulting from King County's S hots Fired program. Another s ection directed
funding toward evidence-bas ed intervention s ervices for youth at high ris k to perpetrate gun violence and who
res ide in areas with high rates of gun violence. In two places , this budget provis o included direction for OFSVP
to "complete an evaluation …and provide a report to the governor and the appropriate legis lative committees "
for the programs s upported with this funding. For s implicity, we combined thos e reports into this s ingle
document. T he relevant language from ESS B 5693(128)(110) is :
(110) $971,000 of the general fund—s tate appropriation for fis cal year 2022 and $3,561,000 of the general fund—
s tate appropriation for fis cal year 2023 are provided s olely for the department to continue s tarting up the
Was hington s tate office of firearm s afety and violence prevention, including the creation of a s tate and federal grant
funding plan to direct res ources to cities that are mos t impacted by community violence. Of the amounts provided in
this s ubs ection:
(a) $100,000 of the general fund—s tate appropriation for fis cal year 2022 and $600,000 of the general fund—s tate
appropriation for fis cal year 2023 are provided s olely for community-bas ed violence prevention and intervention
s ervices to individuals identified through the King County s hots fired s ocial network analys is . T he department mus t
complete an evaluation of the program and provide a report to the governor and the appropriate legis lative
committees by J une 30, 2023.
(b) (i) $450,000 of the general fund—s tate appropriation for fis cal year 2022 and $1,800,000 of the general fund—
s tate appropriation for fis cal year 2023 are provided s olely for a grant program through the office of firearm s afety
and violence prevention for evidence-bas ed s ervices to youth who are at high ris k to perpetrate gun violence and who
res ide in areas with high rates of gun violence. Priority s hall be given to:
A) One s ite s erving in Yakima County, one s ite in S outh King County, one s ite in Federal Way, and one s ite in T acoma;
B) Sites that partner with the Univers ity of Was hington public behavioral health & jus tice policy divis ion to deliver
culturally relevant family integrated trans ition s ervices through us e of credible mes s enger advocates ;
1 Funding was in the fis cal year 2023 s upplemental budget, ESS B 5693(128)(110), Chapter 297, Laws of 2022.
YOUT H VIOLENCE INT ERVENT ION GRANT P ROGRAM REPORT 4
C) Sites that partner with the Univers ity of Was hington Harborview firearm injury and policy res earch program for
s ocial impact evaluation; and
D) Sites that partner an organization focus ed on evidence-bas ed implementation management identified by the
department.
(ii) T he department mus t complete an evaluation of the program and provide a report to the governor and the
appropriate legis lative committees by J une 30, 2023.
As directed, the remaining $1,161,000 in this s upplemental budget provis o was provided to and us ed by OFS VP to
continue to s tand up the office and to s upport the OFS VP grant programs in particular.
Introduction
In the fiscal year 2023, OFSVPdirectly or indirectly funded seven firearm violence intervention programs that
provide services to youth using various evidence-based programs and tools. Two of the funded programs
implemented family-integrated trans ition s ervices us ing credible mes s engers advocates 2 ; under (110)(b)(B),
thes e programs received s upport (funded by OFSVP) from the Univers ity of Was hington Public Behavioral
Health and J us tice Policy Divis ion.
All of the programs received technical as s is tance from a cons ultant funded by OFSVP under (110)(b)(D) and
were evaluated by the Univers ity of Was hington's Firearm Injury and Policy Res earch Program through funding
provided under (110)(b)(C). We s hare the breakdown of this funding dis tribution in the table below.
(110)(a) - Prevention and intervention s ervices to individuals identified through the King County s hots fired
s ocial network analys is .
King County Pros ecuting Attorney's Office $ 450,000
Choos e Freedom (s ubcontract) $ 240,000
Burien BRAVE (s ubcontract) $ 200,000
Maike and As s ociates , LLC $ 50,000
(110)(b) - Evidenced-bas ed firearm violence intervention programming (including programs s erving S outh King
county, Federal Way, and T acoma)
Harborview Medical Center $ 378,630
City of Tacoma (s ubcontracted to multiple programs ) $ 400,000
BIPOC Apos trophe $ 399,002
(110)(b)(B) - Family integrated trans ition s ervices us ing credible mes s engers advocates
Walk About Yakima $ 400,000
2 "Credible mes s engers are neighborhood leaders , experienced youth advocates and individuals with relevant life experiences whos e
role is to help youth trans form attitudes and behaviors around violence." (Credible Mes s enger Initiative | dyrs (dc.gov))
YOUT H VIOLENCE INT ERVENT ION GRANT P ROGRAM REPORT 5
Community Pas s ageways $ 400,000
UW Public Behavioral Health and J us tice Policy Divis ion $ 300,000
(110)(b)(C) - S ocial impact analys is
UW Firearm Injury and Policy Res earch Program $ 156,487
(110)(b)(D) - Evidence-bas ed implementation management
Evidence Bas ed As s ociates $ 200,000
Fis cal year 2023 was the firs t year OFS VP had meaningful funds available to s upport community firearm
violence intervention programs . Much of the progres s and les s ons learned - including implementation of the
recommendations from the Univers ity of Was hington - will be incorporated into future grant s olicitations and
contracts .
King County Shots Fired GrantESSB 5693(128)(110)(a)
Research has consistently shown that while prevalent and persistent, firearm violence is intensely
concentrated within small, identifiable social networks. Firearm violence spreads within these networks,
meaning that the closer a person is to a victim or perpetrator of firearm violence, the more likely they are to be
a victim of firearm violence thems elves . 3 Us ing arres t data from nine law enforcement agencies , analys ts with
the King County Pros ecuting Attorney’s Office (KCPAO) us e s ocial network analys is (S NA) to unders tand the
networks of firearm violence in King County and to identify thos e individuals who are mos t at ris k of becoming
guns hot victims in thos e cities , communities , and neighborhoods mos t impacted by firearm violence.
Individuals are then identified who are at elevated ris k of being victimized. For intervention and prevention
s ervices , KCPAO refers high-ris k individuals to its s ubcontractors , Choos e 180 and the City of Burien Building
Res is tance and Violence Education (BRAVE) program. The expectation is that participation in the s ervices will
deter individuals from further participating or being victims of firearm-related crimes .
Burien's BRAVE Program is a violence intervention program that s tems from the core principle that youth
and community mus t work together to define s hared goals and provide youth with the tools for
achievement. Working with the Highline S chool Dis trict, the BRAVE program and the YMCA Alive and Free
program offer intens ive cas e management s ervices and res ource navigation to promote protective factors
and identify and addres s the s afety and s ocial gaps of the youth enrolled in the program. 4
Choos e 180's Choos e Freedom Program is a community-bas ed approach to reentry from incarceration for
violence prevention and healing. T eam members hold group s es s ions in detention facilities and the
community to build relations hips , learn from each other, and heal from trauma. Choos e 180 focus es on
individuals age 12-24 who live in King County and have been impacted by incarceration and/or gun
violence. 5 For their work with the KCPAO, Choos e 180 conducted entry as s es s ments to as s is t in
developing individualized goal plans and es tablis h bas eline data, conducted exit as s es s ments to as s es s
attitudinal and behavioral changes , and offered s kill development clas s es .
3 King County gun violence data - King County, Was hington
4 S eattle YMCA Violence Prevention Programs
5 Choos e 180, Choos e Freedom
YOUT H VIOLENCE INT ERVENT ION GRANT P ROGRAM REPORT 6
Outcomes
Individuals at risk of gun violence where identified through a Social Network Analysis completed by the King
County Prosecutors Attorney's Office (KCPAO). OnceKCPAO identified an individual, they referred the person
to BRAVE or Choose 180. BRAVE staff would attempt to contact the individual at school, and the Choose 180
team would try to contact the individual in the community.
Fifty-eight referrals were made from the KCPAO.
T wenty-nine additional referrals were from community members who heard about the program.
Five individuals referred from KCPAO S ocial Network Analys is could be contacted to enroll in s ervices .
T wenty-nine individuals who s elf-referred were enrolled in s ervices .
Challenges
T he KCPAO reported s ignificant challenges and low enrollment numbers . T he primary challenge was locating
individuals referred from the KCPAO S ocial Network Analys is . By the time the analys is was completed, the
contact information was outdated, leaving outreach workers with no way to contact the individual. BRAVE and
Choos e 180 made diligent attempts to locate thes e individuals at las t known cell numbers and addres s es ,
reaching out to family members , email, s ocial media, and utilizing people finder platforms without s ucces s .
Opportunities
T he KCPAO has unique acces s to data, which can be us ed to guide community s ervices . BRAVE and Choos e
180 are committed to working with youth and violence prevention. Over the next two years (2023-2025),
KCPAO plans to do the following to continue improving the program:
Continue to work with Choos e 180 to identify ways they can better s upport community-bas ed referrals .
Choos e 180 reports greater s ucces s with community referrals over referrals from KCPAO.
Work with BRAVE to overcome unique challenges to work with youth who attend Highline S chool Dis trict.
S hortening the timeline between the incident and referral will help alleviate this problem.
S olve s tructural is s ues by hiring a full-time analys t for community-bas ed prevention work and upgrading
computer s ys tems .
Violence Intervention Grants ESSB 5693(128)(110)(b)
Commerce distributed much of this grant funding through a competitive process to support e vidence-based
services to youth at high risk of perpetrating gun violence who reside in areas with high rates of gun violence.
The competitive process prioritized sites in Yakima county, south King county, Federal Way, and Tacoma , and
sites that implemented family -integrated transition services in partnership with the University of Washington
Public Behavioral Health and Justice Policy Division.
Harborview Medical Center - $378,630
Hos pital-bas ed Violence Intervention (HVIP) 6 connects victims of firearm violence to s ervices when they come
to the hos pital for treatment of their injuries . HVIP is how Harborview Medical Center s eeks to interrupt the
cycle of retaliation and s upports patients and families caught up in firearm violence. This multidis ciplinary
program combines the efforts of medical s taff with trus ted community-bas ed partners to provide s afety
https ://www.thehavi.org/what-is -an-hvip
YOUT H VIOLENCE INT ERVENT ION GRANT P ROGRAM REPORT 7
planning, s ervice, and trauma-informed care to violently injured patients . This collaboration includes
intervention, cas e management, and follow-up s ervices while addres s ing the S ocial Determinants of Health7 .
Outcomes
From January to June 2023, Harborview Medical Center treated 260 patients who presented in the emergency
room with firearm -related violence injuries. Of the 260 patients:
83% of injuries were as s ault related.
8.1% of injuries were accidental s elf-inflicted injuries
8.5% of injuries were fatal.
44.6% of the patients identified as Black/African Americans , 11.2% As ian/Pacific Is lander, 22.7% White,
15.8% Latinx, 2.7% Native American and 3.1% identified Multiple.
56.3% were firearm injuries of individuals ages 12-30 years old.
70.2% of the patients came from King County.
40% of the victims accepted referrals to community res ources .
Community Passageways $400,000
T his project aimed to s erve 30-40 youth and young adults impacted by firearm violence. T he funding als o
s upported adminis trative and operational capacity to reduce firearm violence among youth and young adults
of color at ris k of or involved in firearm violence and firearm-involved legal cas es . T his project s us tained
Community Pas s ageways ’ implementation of family-integrated trans ition (FIT ) s ervices , partnering with the
Univers ity of Was hington Public Behavioral Health and J us tice Policy Divis ion.
In addition to providing s ervices to at-ris k individuals , the contract required Community Pas s ageways s taff to:
attend training provided by the Univers ity of Was hington Department of Ps ychiatry and Behavioral Health,
attend Credible Mes s enger (CM) training,
train new employees on the Apricot fis cal management platform,
improve cas e management and data quality acros s programs ,
monitor program fidelity for evidence-bas ed s ervices , and
improve financial monitoring and invoicing.
Outcomes
T he contract required Community Pas s ageways to report on performance and outcome meas ures , including:
Number of youth/young adults identified as being high-ris k
Number of families /clients enrolled or retained.
Number of new youth/young adults enrolled in the program
Number of youth/young adults provided with Cognitive Behavioral T herapy (CBT ), Dialectical Behavior
T herapy (DBT ), Multis ys temic Therapy (MS T), and/or Family Integrated T herapy (FIT ) interventions
Number of youth/young adults ’ connected s ervices
Number of meetings with technical as s is tance (TA) provider, date, and type of T A provided
Number and dates of training
7 S ocial Determinants of Health - Healthy People 2030 | health.gov
YOUT H VIOLENCE INT ERVENT ION GRANT P ROGRAM REPORT 8
T he information s ubmitted by the contractor indicated that 39 families were receiving s ervices as of J une 30,
2023, and that training of s taff was conducted approximately once a quarter but did not provide meaningful
data on outcomes from this project.
Walk About Yakima $400,000
The Walk About Yakima (WAY) program administered by the Dispute Resource Center of Yakima and Kittitas
Counties partners with the Yakima Police Department, Yakima County Juvenile Court, the University of
Washington Public Behavioral Health and Justice Policy Division, and other partners to reduce gang violence in
Yakima. 8
Bas ed on the Crown Heights S ave Our S treets evidence-bas ed model, the WAY program aims to reduce firearm
violence among high-ris k youth and young adults through violence interrupter and outreach programs . 9 T he
program us es mentors to connect high-ris k young people to program s ervices . Additional wraparound
s upports as s is t youth in overcoming barriers ranging from conflicts to hous ing ins tability and provide
redirection away from firearm violence.
In collaboration with the WAY program, over the grant period, the Yakima Police Department and Gang Unit and
other community and s ys tem partners identified 40 youth and young adults as high-ris k. Twenty-nine cus tomer
notifications were completed. Cus tomer notification occurs when a mentor and a law enforcement officer
pers onally contact individuals to offer s ervices and res ources to change behavior patterns before another
firearm incident occurs .
Individuals enrolled in the WAY program met with mentors . T hey participated in the Univers ity of Was hington
Family Integrated T rans itions (FIT ) program. T he primary goal of the FIT program is to enhance s elf-
management of emotions , become aware of thoughts and behaviors , focus on reducing the ris k of out-of-
home placement, reduce delinquency, including firearm carrying and us e, and treat behavioral health dis orders ,
including s ubs tance us e and abus e.
Outcomes
Of the 40 individuals contacted, 31 chos e to enter programming and s ervices .
Eight individuals graduated from the program.
Mentors made 1,185 youth and young adult program participant contacts through community events and
other targeted outreach.
BIPOC Apostrophe Foundation - $399,002
T his new program us es the S afe and S ucces s ful Youth Initiative (SS YI) program 10 to reduce firearm violence
by identifying young men of color, ages 17 – 24, at the highes t ris k of engaging in or being a victim of firearm
violence. Once thes e youth and young adults are identified, s treet outreach workers contact the youth/young
adults to engage them in the program and offer intens ive cas e management s ervices . T hrough the
implementation of an evidence-bas ed approach, the project provides a holis tic approach, which included
connecting an es timated 45 young adult males to mental health, educational, and/or employment readines s
s ervices during the grant period.
8 Community Partners hip — Dis pute Res olution Center (drcyakima.org)
9 S ave Our Streets Crown Heights (s os crownheights .org)
10 Program Profile: S afe and S ucces s ful Youth Initiative (S S YI) (Mas s achus etts ) | CrimeS olutions , National Ins titute of J us tice (ojp.gov)
YOUT H VIOLENCE INT ERVENT ION GRANT P ROGRAM REPORT 9
Program activities
From November to December 2022, BIPOC Apostrophe11 , us ing King County S ocial Network Analys is
information, identified neighborhoods in the Renton, Kent, Federal Way, and Rainer Beach clas s ified as low- to
high-crime areas . By identifying neighborhoods impacted by high-violence crimes , BIPOC Apos trophe
determined how to dis tribute its S treet Outreach program.
T he S treet Outreach team contacted individuals in known hang-out areas and apartment complexes where
gang violence was prevalent. The team als o contacted faith-bas ed communities in thos e locations as a s ource
of information about the neighborhood.
Outcomes
S treet Outreach teams connected with local high s chools in S outh King County and continued to contact
high-ris k individuals and pas s out flyers about gun violence.
From December 2022 – J une 2023, the S treet Outreach team handed out more than 1,830 flyers about gun
violence. It contacted 60 individuals in high-ris k neighborhoods to offer cas e management s ervices .
City of Tacoma - $400,000
T hrough this project, the City of Tacoma s ubcontracted with five violence reduction organizations to s upport
s ervices to reduce firearm violence and gang activity to high-ris k youth and young adults and their families .
T his project incorporated a range of s ervices , including cas e management, s treet outreach, mentors hip and
peer s upport, mental health and s ubs tance us e treatment, s kills -building activities , community action work,
non-legal advocacy for clients , and s upport and res ources for family members . 12
T acoma's s ubcontractors included Big Homie Minis tries and T acoma Urban League, who were s ubcontracted
to increas e the number of s ervice providers ; weave together a fabric of s ervices tailored to the unique needs of
communities and neighborhoods throughout T acoma; incorporate credible mes s engers into exis ting s ervice
delivery to reach populations that traditionally will not work with city-funded s ervice providers ; provide s upport
for families impacted by gun violence; and prevent and reduce youth violence and gang activity.
Big Homie Minis tries 13 program aims to reduce violence and unite youth and young adults in Pierce
County. Big Homie Minis tries ' clients receive s upport and intentional one-on-one s ervices to help them
dis engage from antis ocial behavior. The goal is to develop tools to navigate difficult circums tances , build
new s kills , decons truct unhealthy behaviors , and engage in alternate income s ources . T his organization
s erved 33 individuals us ing FIT .
T acoma Urban League (T UL), Male Involvement Program 14 is a youth violence prevention program for
middle s chool males of color. T he program teaches alternate options for reducing conflict, managing
anger, and avoiding violence through s tructured dialogue, culturally s pecific exercis es and group
mentoring. 15 T his program targets individuals in the City of T acoma under the age of 24 res iding wes t of
T acoma Mall, in the Eas ts ide and Hilltop neighborhoods . T hey als o focus ed on incarcerated youth and
other youth living outs ide the City of T acoma limits . S till, they are actively involved in criminal activity ins ide
the Tacoma city limits and verified by the T acoma Police Department. This program s erved 36 individuals
us ing FIT .
11 Home - BIPOC Apos trophe
12 Youth and Young Adult Violence Reduction - City of T acoma
13 T he Big Homie Program
14 Middle S chool T rans itions (thetacomaurbanleague.org)
15 Middle S chool T rans itions (thetacomaurbanleague.org)
YOUT H VIOLENCE INT ERVENT ION GRANT P ROGRAM REPORT 10
Big Brother Big S is ters (BBBS ) 16 anti-violence advocates provided group mentoring s es s ions to youth and
young adults under 24 in dis tres s ed neighborhoods . T hey worked with parents and guardians of youth
impacted by violence. By working with credible mes s engers , BBBS engaged many youth who us ually would
not participate in BBBS programming.
Community in S chools (CIS ) 17 provided s ervices in T acoma’s highes t-need s chools and in areas identified
in the City of T acoma’s Gang As s es s ment. CIS works with youth at ris k of expuls ion or removal from
s chool and includes convers ations about gun violence.
Cons ejo Couns eling and Referral Services 18 provides s ervice to middle and high s chool-aged youth.
Outreach workers offered s chool-bas ed peer groups for youth impacted by gun violence and who engaged
in antis ocial behavior at s chool.
Technical assistance and training support
To support community partners, OFSVP provided training and technical assistance to help outcomes. Through
a competitive process, Evidence Based Associates was selected to build organizational and programmatic
capacity and sustainabilit y; support the development and implementation of work plans to ensure fidelity of
services and program delivery; and provide oversight of and support for data collection, o utcome analysis, and
reporting to funded Intervention programs.
Evidence Based Associates offered all grantees opportunities to engage and participate in Training and
Technical Assistance (TTA) support activities that were designed to address common challenges associated
with implementing evidence-based programs. These opportunities included baseline assessments of
readiness to implement evidence-based programs, model-specific training, data collection and management
training, and assistance with referral management. Grantees were not required to utilize TTA resources,
resulting in grantees reaching out for TTA support when they experienced a challenge. This resulted in an
uneven utilization of TTA resources during this grant period.
Through this experience, OFSVP learned the importance of ensuring geographically localized and culturally
relevant training assistance to meet grantees' needs with robust and supportive resources.
Evaluation of Youth Firearm Violence Intervention
Programs
Throughout the fiscal year 2023, the University of Washington Firearm Injury and Policy Research Program
worked with the funded programs described above, conducting a year-end assessment of the youth firearm
violence and intervention programs outlined in this report. The evaluators focused on four significant efforts
emerging in Community Violence Intervention (CVI): Theory of Change Development, Workshop Facilitation,
Qualitative Interviews, and Measurement Co-Development.
CVI programming is rooted in strength, resilience, joy, and collective efficacy in communities. The Theory of
Change is a synthesis and visual depiction of how and why a program or intervention is thought to work. The
main components of a CVI program include the central element of the program, the overarching mechanisms
16 Big Brother Big Sisters
17 Communities In Schools of Tacoma (ciswa.org)
18 Cons ejo – Couns eling and Referral (cons ejocouns eling.org)
YOUT H VIOLENCE INT ERVENT ION GRANT P ROGRAM REPORT 11
by which the program influences des ired outcomes , and the context in which the program operates . T heory of
Change models are des igned to s upport clear communication about complex and multifaceted interventions ,
guide program evaluation, s upport dis s emination of information, and facilitate s cale-up to s upport a larger
community.
Program activities us ing the Theory of Change model include:
Community engagement - s upporting individuals not enrolled in any particular program through organized
events and outreach s ervices to provide res ources , rais e awarenes s about the program, and recruit
participants .
Cas e management, wraparound s ervices - agencies s upport clients and their families in acces s ing
res ources and meeting their needs and pers onal goals .
Cognitive behavioral intervention - programs des igned to s hift an individual's minds et and s upport behavior
change.
S tipend, direct financial s upport - providing direct financial s upport to clients and families .
Employment, education, and life s kill development - s upport programs that provide opportunities for
acces s to education, employment and profes s ional and life s kill development.
Conflict mediation, cris is intervention, and res pons e - programs that s upport mediation s ervices to
intervene in conflicts and res pond to cris es in the community.
Mentors hip - programs that allow s taff to engage continuous ly with clients and their families to build
pos itive, trus ting relations hips that fos ter pros ocial growth.
S taff s ervices - funding to s upport training and s ervices to organizations providing s ervices in the
community.
Lessons learned
The lessons learned in this evaluation period were:
Understanding the context in which CVI programs operate is vital to understanding and evaluating their
efficacy.
All the programs in this evaluation are connected to these critical elements:
• use of culturally competent staff and credible messengers with lived experience,
• providing comprehensive support for the social and economic needs of youth and their families,
• focus on relationship building , and
• supporting holistic health and well-being of the individual in need of services.
Measurement is a key challenge in program evaluation. Evaluation requires intensive formative work to
identify what information to collect, how to collect it, and how to analyze it to reflect the work
accomplished and gaps that remain.
Recommendations based on the evaluation for future program funding
Based on feedback from program providers, the lesson learned is that funders need to focus on strength -
based indicators such as how services are provided, the health and well-being of clientele, and the structural
determinants of safety instead of highlighting antisocial outcomes resulting from crime and violence.
Program provider recommendations are:
Seek input from and involve community members in determining processes and outcome measures.
Grant funding should support Community Violence Intervention program capacity and resources through
longer funding cycles and partnership investment.
YOUT H VIOLENCE INT ERVENT ION GRANT P ROGRAM REPORT 12
Res earchers s hould acknowledge and aim to redres s “top-down” res earch approaches rooted in white
s upremacy that have caus ed community harm and mis trus t.
Res earchers s hould partner with other Community Violence Intervention programs to co-develop
meaningful evaluations with the organizations they s erve.
Res earchers and funders s hould continue engaging with CVI programs to determine acces s ible and
efficient data collection proces s es .
YOUT H VIOLENCE INT ERVENT ION GRANT P ROGRAM REPORT 13
File and source
- File
- 2023_commercereports-ofsvp-firearm-violence-prevention-program-leg-reportfi.pdf
- Size
- 422,500 bytes
- SHA-256
- 93c62460d5a3a00cedc724faa0edab852c0f24571572baac772a08cf9f7356fa
- Original
- app.leg.wa.gov