Los Angeles County's Department of Public Health's Office of Violence Prevention is partnering with the California Community Foundation (CCF) to invest over $5.8 million in violence prevention, intervention, and healing services. The funds, part of the County's COVID-19 recovery plan, are aimed at supporting community-based organizations in reducing violence, according to a recent press release. The Trauma Prevention Partnerships Initiative, the distributor of the funds, is set to develop current strategies for the Office of Violence Prevention.
The initiative plans to provide direct funding to 25-30 community-based organizations across the County. The recipients of funding will encompass organizations implementing new programs focused on promoting peace and healing, with CCF managing ARPA funds' disbursement.
Funding recipients include seven hospital violence intervention programs, ten street outreach programs, and a peer-to-peer learning academy within Los Angeles County. By enhancing existing initiatives from the Office of Violence Prevention, the county addresses its high rates of violence, as reported in the press release.
One beneficiary, California Black Women's Health Project (CBWHP), aims to reduce violence in domestic and communal settings. CBWHP advocates for the exploration of the root causes of various types of violence, according to a statement by CEO Sonya Young Aadam. She notes that the Trauma Prevention Partnership Project supports its mission with funds and community-defined practices.
Office of Violence Prevention Director Andrea Welsing acknowledged the importance of the investments, given the impact of gun violence in Los Angeles County. Noting local violence rates have risen since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Welsing expressed hope that investments would foster individuals, families, and communities to access resources.
In addition to grant awards, CCF partnership also aids in capacity building among organizations, data and evaluation development, and community trauma reduction through prevention and intervention. Dr. Adrienne Hillman, CCF Trauma Prevention Partnerships program officer, believes funded initiatives can inform and shape future violence prevention, as per the press release.
