Roca Boston: Community Violence Response Project

The Roca Boston Community Violence Response Project (CVRP) will expand violence intervention services to young people, specifically those “most likely to shoot or be shot,” including nonfatal shooting victims or witnesses known to be engaged in violence in the community. The project will serve 225 highest-risk young people each year of the grant (100 young men aged 18–24, 50 younger teens aged 15–17, and 75 young women aged 16–24.) Roca will deliver its internationally recognized, long-term behavioral health model, anchored in its cognitive behavioral theory-based approach to youth work, to help these young people create long-term behavior change and stop engaging in violence. Key activities include: (1) community-driven data analysis and violence intervention planning, (2) the replication/application of key data driven tools to more effectively engage those young people who are driving violence, and (3) expanded cognitive behavioral intervention services for young people at highest risk for being a victim or perpetrator of violence. Young people served by CVRP will demonstrate the following outcomes: 80 percent will demonstrate improved behavioral health and emotional regulation, 80 percent of those engaged 18–24 months will demonstrate a reduction in violent behaviors and/or criminal thinking, 80 percent will have no new incarcerations for new charges, and 80 percent will secure and retain unsubsidized employment. A rigorous, independent, third-party evaluation of the project will be conducted using separate funding.