Sustainment and Expansion of One Vision One Life, a Violence Prevention Initiative Modeled on Chicago Cease-Fire

The Recovery Act Edward Byrne Memorial Competitive Grant Program (Byrne Competitive Program) will help communities improve the capacity of state and local justice systems and provide for national support efforts including training and technical assistance programs strategically targeted to address local needs. This competitive grant announcement focuses on initiatives in eight areas: 1) preventing and reducing violent crime through community-based data-driven approaches; 2) providing funding for neighborhood-based probation and parole officers; 3) reducing mortgage fraud and crime related to vacant properties; 4) hiring of civilian support personnel in law enforcement (training staff, analysts, dispatchers, etc.); 5) enhancing forensic and crime scene investigations; 6) improving resources and services for victims of crime; 7) supporting problem-solving courts; and 8) national training and technical assistance partnerships.

Under category 1, Allegheny County Department of Human Services will use the FY 2009 Recovery Act Byrne Competitive funds to support Vision One Life with Sustainment and Expansion of One Vision One Life project. One Vision One Life (1V1L) is a community-level anti-violence program designed to prevent targeted violence by: (1) identifying, training, and developing a team of Community Coordinators (CC); (2) systematically collecting and utilizing street-level intelligence; (3) reaching out to those at risk for violence with services, jobs, and assistance; and, (4) intensively documenting and evaluating efforts. The grant funds will be used to sustain three of its current Community Coordinators and hire and train three additional staff members. The 1V1L program will continue to improve fidelity to the Chicago Cease-Fire model by: (1) implementing findings from a recent organizational assessment; (2) continuing to move practices to match Chicago Ceasefire; (3) visiting Chicago Ceasefire; and (4) engaging local law enforcement in efforts to improve fidelity to the model.

CA/NCF