Peace For DC's Ward 8 Life Transformation Partnership Initiative

The goals of Peace For DC’s Ward 8 Life Transformation Partnership Initiative are to reduce gun violence and transform the lives of those at highest risk of involvement in violence by launching Washington, D.C.’s first neighborhood-based long-term life transformation program. This program is focused on individuals at highest risk of being victims or perpetrators of gun violence in two DC Ward 8 communities with the highest rates of gun violence. This program is launching in partnership with the skilled, trusted community-based organizations already embedded in these communities. We provide long-term, individualized engagement; comprehensive evidence-based wraparound programming; a robust data tracking system; ongoing strategic coordination; and independent evaluation. All programming and care occurs in the community through neighborhood hubs and is delivered by a team of local community-based professionals for up to 2 years per participant.

Participants are carefully screened for level of risk and readiness for transformation. Research indicates that the average age range of individuals in DC meeting this criteria are 18-30 years old. Anecdotal evidence suggests risk factors are increasing for youth, so participants could potentially be younger than 18. We will make special accommodations to support their success. We enroll cohorts of 20 participants annually, with the goal of reaching 60 participants by the end of the grant period.
This initiative is modeled on successful programs like READI and Chicago CRED and will incorporate Roca’s Rewire Cognitive Behavioral Theory (CBT), a research-based intervention to support healing and behavior change. Key measurements toward achieving our goals include how many participants stay involved in the program, demonstrate efforts toward behavior change, keep from getting shot, and stay out of jail, as well as how many mediations, non-aggression agreements, and peace agreements are established for neighborhood crews.

Researchers from Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland College Park are serving as partners on this project. A companion evaluation application under NIJ solicitation “Evaluations of OJP CVIPI, FY2023” is being prepared by our independent evaluation partners at Howard University’s Center for Excellence for Trauma and Violence Prevention.