SUMMARY:
This memo outlines the Cure Violence Model, the roles played by the San Antonio Metro Health District (SAMHD) and the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD), and an overview of the funding for the program.
BACKGROUND:
The Cure Violence program is one of three federally endorsed and funded programs shown to reduce murders and shootings by 41 to 73 percent and retaliatory shootings by up to 100 percent in the program areas. The Program treats violence as a disease and employs a medical model used to control the spread of diseases.
SAMHD program staff will engage individuals at risk of involvement in a shooting or killing in order to prevent such violence from occurring. To do so, outreach workers must become familiar with their assigned neighborhoods and are trained to intervene with high risk individuals. Since those most at risk are less likely to seek assistance from Police, outreach workers meet and work with those they assist in non-traditional settings such as parks and street corners during non-traditional hours when local data indicate violence is most likely to occur.
Outreach workers are challenged to build trust with high risk individuals, many of whom are gang-involved, in order to influence their behavior and to redirect them to positive pursuits including jobs, job training, and returning to school.
Currently, SAPD and SAMHD plan to implement the Cure Violence Program following the example of the City of Chicago. In an effort to look at best practices, representatives from SAMHD and SAPD traveled to Chicago last month to meet with local Program Managers and receive initial training.
The San Antonio Police Department recently applied for the Cure Violence grant. If awarded the funds, SAPD and SAMHD will work in a collaborative effort to apply the same type of model in San Antonio. Office space is tentatively designated at the SAMHD facility at Brooks City Base. All program staff will be hired by SAMHD. These staff include:
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