FY24 Office of Justice Programs Community Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative Training and Technical Assistance Program

The National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago will build the capacity of the community violence intervention (CVI) field to effectively understand and communicate CVI strategies. This will be done by developing tools and resources that grantees and other practitioners in the field can use to effectively communicate with a range of audiences about their work. These tools and resources will include the development of a cohesive set of multimedia and visual storytelling products to elevate the voices and stories of the CVI field. The NORC’s multi-pronged approach encompasses seven tasks and includes authentic stakeholder and community engagement, iterative data collection methods with feedback loops, and creation of effective messages and communication resources tailored to different audiences to raise capacity and awareness for CVI strategies. During the 36-month project, NORC will conduct a communications landscape scan, develop strategic communications guidance, develop resources, trainings programs and toolkits, develop a cohesive portfolio of multimedia products, provide technical assistance, and conduct trainings. Throughout the project NORC’s inclusive research framework will underpin all activities. These tasks will focus on collecting data about how various stakeholders communicate about CVI strategies and will develop a comprehensive communications strategy, including messaging, guidance, resources, and training and technical assistance (TTA). These activities will leverage NORC’s deep roots in research and evidence-based content to develop tailored messages about CVI and provide cost-effective, responsive TTA to CVIPI grantees and the CVI field at large.