Oklahoma Community Violence Intervention Program

The Oklahoma County Diversion Hub, in partnership with LiveFree OKC, aims to reduce violent crime by expanding a pilot community violence intervention (CVI) program in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma that deploys credible messengers to provide individuals at highest risk of violence with mediation and life-stabilizing services. Grant funds will be used to: 1) enhance collaborative community partnerships; 2) hire critical staff to expand program capacity; and 3) contribute to the national understanding of CVI best practices. Budgeted peer learning events and the addition of a researcher to the CVIPI team will enable the ongoing critique, evaluation, and dissemination of project outcomes. Program outcomes include a demonstrated reduction in community violence in Ward 7 and expanded mediation and life-stabilizing services at its Diversion Hub to more high-risk individuals. LiveFree will also develop a community needs assessment and Violence Reduction Strategic Plan to guide CVI implementation. Primary activities include the deployment of additional Peacemakers to mediate conflict, the hiring of administrative staff to ensure sustainability and successful expansion, the provision of comprehensive case management, and the hosting of community convenings and collaborative meetings that transmit community feedback. The target area for the project is Ward 7 in Oklahoma City and the target age range is 18-35, although staff may serve individuals outside of these ranges based on need. Individuals at highest risk for violence are identified through official data and confirmed through community information gathered by credible messengers on risk factors such as substance use and housing instability.