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:
· One full time coordinator to administer the grant funds and account for their use
· Four full time outreach workers
· Part time Canvassers and Violence Interrupters will be hired until their designated funding is exhausted
Chicago staff will travel to San Antonio for an initial assessment of the areas. Once the funding has been awarded, all program staff will receive forty hours of training on the Chicago program. Additional training will be provided throughout the first year of the program.
Because of inherent distrust, these workers cannot be SAPD employees or give the appearance of being agents of the police. To that effect, SAPD's role will be to provide data identifying areas of the City which are most at risk. SAPD Detectives will also be used to assist victims access the criminal justice system.
ALTERNATIVES
If SAPD and SAMHD do not receive funding, then each department will continue to address the issues of violence and other quality of life issues within San Antonio.
FUNDING:
The proposed Justice Assistance Grant award, not to exceed $2,000,000, is anticipated to fund the Program for first 19 months. After the initial 19 months, CJD will review the project and if successful will ask the City to apply for the third year funding.
After this funding is exhausted and monies are not available through CJD, funding may be sought through further additional grants to continue the Cure Violence Program.
CONCLUSION:
SAPD and SAMHD will continue to address quality of life issues. Both departments are hopeful that the Program will build upon other initiatives currently underway to reduce violence in San Antonio.