City of Birmingham Community Violence Intervention Prevention Initiative

The City of Birmingham (City) proposes to expand the Jefferson County Family Resource Center (Center) RESTORE pilot, which provides reentry services for court-involved youth (ages 16–19). The purpose is to provide participating youth additional wraparound services and resources, with an emphasis on violent crime hot spots in the Western and Eastern precincts. Project activities include: onboarding four caseworkers, incentivizing community organizations to offer additional services, developing and implementing life-skills and restorative justice curricula, hosting outreach events in targeted communities, engaging additional credible messengers in the intervention and reentry process, and developing a RESTORE expansion plan for ages 11–15. Expected outcomes include: increased wraparound services for participants; higher completion of case management plans, increased engagement between youth and law enforcement in the targeted communities, increased exposure to restorative justice principles for participants, more effective use of the City’s built-environments in crime prevention, and improved data-collection infrastructure. Court-involved youth (ages 11–19) and their families are the intended beneficiaries. Subrecipient activities include: providing participants with case management and wraparound support, hosting community-led events in highest risk communities, and developing curricula specific to the needs of court-involved youth.

The City proposes to enhance its 2021 Public Safety Agenda. The purpose is to ensure the City is advancing equitable and fair policies and programs that address crime through a data-driven, community-led lens. Project activities include: frequent convening of stakeholders to assess crime prevention strategies; consistent community engagement through roundtable discussions, surveys and focus groups; and intensive review of local governance, policies, and practices around criminal justice. Expected outcomes include: enhanced, actionable and trauma-informed strategies to deter violent crime, with an emphasis on youth; a cohesive approach to promoting conflict resolution, with an emphasis on youth; and improved community-based insights around violent crime and justice equality. The residents and visitors of Jefferson County are the beneficiaries. Subrecipient activities include: executing community engagement activities, conducting strategic planning sessions, evaluating data and intelligence, and drafting a Crime Reduction Plan.