CVI Linkage: Enhancing the connection between hospital-based violence intervention program and violence interrupter programs

Youth ALIVE! proposes a comprehensive project to address the persistent issue of community violence in Oakland, CA, where homicide and firearm assault rates remain alarmingly high, especially in predominantly low-income Black and Latinx neighborhoods. This project aims to support survivors of violence, enhance the linkage between hospital-based violence intervention and violence interruption programs with healthcare systems, and evaluate the impact of these enhancements. The project's primary activities include leveraging existing programs, Youth ALIVE!'s Caught in the Crossfire (CiC) and Violence Interruption (VI) programs, which support survivors at the hospital bedside and aim to prevent brewing conflicts from escalating to violence. The project will also establish the CVIPI Linkage Working Group, which consists of direct service providers, leadership from Youth ALIVE! and Alameda Health System (AHS), representatives from evaluation partner ETR, and former CiC clients. This group will enhance operational and strategic collaboration, conduct a needs assessment, and develop a comprehensive Violence Reduction Strategic Plan. Expected outcomes include a more effective support system for individuals affected by violence, improved program delivery through enhanced linkages, and further development of evidence-based strategies for violence prevention and intervention. By intervening early and providing continuous support, Youth ALIVE! aims to address the root causes of violence and promote long-term positive outcomes.

The service area for this project is primarily East and West Oakland, home to a majority of Oakland's Black residents, and Central Oakland, which has the city's largest Latinx community. The intended beneficiaries are individuals and communities most affected by community violence, particularly Black and Latinx residents identified as high-risk. High-risk in this proposal is identified as being a survivor of community violence referred through clinical care, with particular attention to Black and Latinx men aged 18 and older. Using CiC 2023 data as a baseline, these characteristics are most associated with hospital-based violence intervention program (HVIP) clients in Oakland.