VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAM
Violence Prevention Professionals (VPP) are mentors, violence interrupters, community members, advocates and activists. VPP are responsible for recruiting and maintaining a caseload of 15 to 20 high risk youth who are active in street violence. VPPs will provide intensive mentoring to high risk youth, serve as an alternative to conflict, and help facilitate positive changes in behavior. They identify and detect potential violent events and assist in conflict mediation efforts to prevent initial violence and violence retaliations, and complete corresponding documentation.
1. DETECT AND INTERRUPT POTENTIAL CONFLICTS
PREVENT RETALIATIONS
After this is a shooting Violence Prevention Professionals will work with the community and on the streets to prevent a retaliation. Violence Prevention Professionals will also meet with individuals who recently got out of prison to help them smoothly reenter the community, but to also prevent any conflicts that might have been caused in or before their incarceration period.
HOSPITAL RESPONSE
Immediately after this is a shooting Violence Prevention Professionals will respond to Yale New Haven Hospital to de-escalate situations in the Emergency Room among family members, friends, and other individuals waiting for loved ones. With the help of the Yale New Haven Hospital staff, Violence Prevention Professionals are also able to meet with the victim to figure out who they are and where the beef started to help prevent another shooting.
MEDIATE SITUATIONS
Violence Prevention Professionals are trained mediators who will mediate situations within the Public School system, their clients, or other referral places. Violence Prevention Professionals act as a third party to help keep the discussion calm and help the participants come up with an agreed resolution.
2. IDENTIFY AND TREAT THE HIGHEST RISK
ACCESS THE HIGHEST RISK
Violence Prevention Professionals are experienced in working with youth in their communities through their own personal experience or past work. The relationships that they build help them work with youth to identify the best individual plan for them.
INDIVIDUAL PLANS
Violence Prevention Professionals each manage a caseload of clients; however, they understand that each client has their own individual life/struggles. During introductions/intake Violence Prevention Professionals will work with the client together to create a realistic/individual plan.
CHANGE BEHAVIORS
Violence Prevention Professionals are experienced in motivational interviewing and assisting clients in their dreams and aspirations. VPPs will assist clients with the plan they made together and anything else that might be needed along the way.
3. CHANGE COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL NORMS
POSITIVE NORMS
Violence Prevention Professionals work with the community and the youth in the community to stress positive/healthy behaviors. The VPPs teach their clients about how to control and release their anger in a healthy way and the importance of self care and mental health.
COMMUNITY ACTIVITY
Violence Prevention Professionals create events and programs within the community and outside the community to bring awareness to the struggles that might be experienced. VPPs also develop events that bring the community together to build positive connections.
