City of Portland Violence Prevention Outreach

The Office of Violence Prevention (OVP) aims to address the increase of violent crime and gun violence through a harm reduction approach that uses national models proven to reduce community and gun violence, through multiple programs. One of which is our Street Level Outreach (SLO) program. SLO workers engage with youth/young adults between the ages of 8 to 25 years old and who are at risk of becoming a victim or perpetrator of violence. The goal is to reduce their risks and limit their future involvement with the criminal justice system. SLO workers are contracted through culturally specific Community Based Organizations (CBOs). SLO workers also attend after school sporting events and activities, evening scholars, and community events along with constantly monitoring designated hot spots around the city. 

OVP’s Program Coordinator would provide programmatic and administrative support to our Program Managers who oversee our Street Level Outreach program. Their duties would include supporting the program manager at regular check-ins with SLO supervisors, assist in data collection and narrative reporting, attend ride alongs to SLO identified hotspots and provide outreach to schools and neighborhoods on an as needed basis. 

The street level outreach program engages with individuals and families to build relationships and address risk and protective factors. They also provide support services to those families in need. Violence Interrupters are present in potential high-risk areas to interrupt, mediate and redirect potential conflicts and violence.  They provide support for families during times of trauma and grief. Additionally, Violence interrupters and outreach workers will provide and attend prosocial activities and community events to engage with individuals, developing real trust. Violence interrupters will monitor designated hot spots around the city, which help reduce potentially violent interactions. 

With the addition of a Program Coordinator, our SLO Program Manager and contractors will have additional administrative and programmatic support, creating more capacity to provide violence interruption and supporting our community.