Safe Streets Baltimore

Baltimore, Maryland

H f Th J h H ki H i l d Th J h H ki Home of The Johns Hopkins Hospital, and The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, founding institutions of modern American medicine

Home of The Inner Harbor ‐ historic seaport, tourist attraction and iconic landmark

Home of The Baltimore Ravens with 7 playoff appearances Home of The Baltimore Ravens with 7 playoff appearances since 2000

Baltimore, Maryland, y

Where the leading cause of death among Baltimore City residents aged 15‐34 years is homicide

Wh 30% f hild i tWhere 30% of children grow up in povertyWhere many youth don’t believe they’ll live to be 25, and if they 

do for some it will be behind barsWhere the juvenile homicide rate is 8.4 times higher than the 

national rate 

Top 5 Reasons for Dying Too YoungTop 5 Reasons for Dying Too Young in Baltimore City 

Top 5 Causes of Deaths <75 years in Baltimore City

% of All Years of Potential Life Lost 

1.  Heart Disease 15.4

2. Cancer (all Causes) 14.8

3 Homicide 12 53. Homicide 12.5

4.  HIV/AIDS 7.6

5 Drug‐induced 6 95.  Drug‐induced 6.9

Cure Violence•Evidence‐based, public health model to reduce 

shootings and killingsg g

• Health problem (disease)

• Epidemic• Epidemic

• Infectious

• Based in behavior (learned/social norm)

• Behavioral interventions can interrupt transmission by changing normschanging norms

The Public Health ApproachStop shootings & killings by:

•Working with people at the•Working with people at the highest risk (in this case those most associated withmost associated with violence)

•Working in those•Working in those communities that are disproportionately effecteddisproportionately effected

• Using data and research to i f th kinform the work

The Cure Violence Model to Reduce Sh ti d KilliShootings and Killings

Identification Change Beh io

Interruption, Intervention

and DetectionBehaviors and Normsand Risk

Reduction

D t d M it iData and Monitoring

Behavior Formation Modeling:

• Imitation

• Start of infectivity fof 

behaviors

Behavior Formation

Trial and error:

• Intentional or unintentional

• Consequences

• Physical

• Social

P di ti i f t ti• Prediction in future action

Behavior Change

Change agents move individuals and groups to the tipping pointtipping point.

Change Happens When… 

• Engage influencers

Outreach workers and violence interrupters:

• Engage influencers  • Correct old information • Provide new information• Assist in overcoming barriers  • Monitor change process

F l b h i i i th i lf i t t d f l i ht

Program participants:

• Feel new behavior is in their self‐interest and feels right• Have opportunities to develop new skills • Feel new behavior evokes positive social reactions (and• Feel new behavior evokes positive social reactions (and avoids negative)

Multiple Messages Change What is “Normal”

Outreach Interveners 3 Variables Behavioral Outcome

Workers Violence Interrupters

Norms

p Peers Family Members Risk

No ShootingsMembers

Community members

Faith Leaders Faith Leaders Law   Enforcement

Champions

Alternatives

Champions

Critical Elements of the Model

The Right…

• Community• Community

• Participants

• Approach

Workers with the Right skills & Right backgroundsWorkers with the Right skills & Right backgrounds

Partners

Messages and Messengers

• Using data to inform the work and ensure effectivenessUsing data to inform the work and ensure effectiveness

The Right Partners

• Implementing OrganizationsImplementing Organizations

•The Community

•Faith Leaders

• Law Enforcement

•Hospitals 

•Service Providers

The Right Partners: Implementing Organizations

•Mission supports violence prevention strategiesMission supports violence prevention strategies

•Understands public health approach

•Dedicated to the implementation process

•Committed to maintaining model fidelityg y

•Willing to partner with BCHD

•Able to manage detailed fiscal accounting

The Right Partners: Community

•Demonstrated need for intervention

•Organizations, businesses and other g ,partners within the target neighborhood who are supportive of the Safe Streets Baltimoremission

•History of collaborative efforts between ycommunity groups

•Several residents within the targetSeveral residents within the target community  who are vocal advocates that shootings within their community are not acceptable

•Unique position to

The Right Partners: Faith Leaders

•Unique position to influence thinking and behavior

•Engage members of the  faith community to partner on events, shooting responses, etc.

Partnership can include:• Opening facility as a safe haven 

• Preaching nonviolence

Att di d/ l di h ti• Attending and/or leading a shooting response

• Urging congregants to work to stop shootings and killings

The Right Partners: Law Enforcement

• Notification of Shootings

D t• Data

• Participation in Hiring Panels

• Background Checks

• Allows staff to conduct shooting• Allows staff to conduct shooting responses and events without interferenceinterference

Common Goal = Reduce Violence

• Partnership allows

The Right Partners: Hospitals• Partnership allows Interrupter and Outreach Staff to meet with victims and their friends and families

• Increases ability to  t t li tiprevent retaliation

Common Goal = Commitment to reducing violent trauma recidivism among victims admitted to the hospital for gun shot wounds

The Right Partners: Service Providers

Provide assistance to highest risk:

Education

Job Readiness

Employment

Substance Abuse

Mental Health

Housing

The Right Staff with the Right SkillsMUST BE:

Able to relate to highest risk

Credible 

Connected to target communityConnected to target community

Street‐smart

Willing to adhere to the model

Primary Responsibilities:

• Identify and detect

• Interrupt• Interrupt

• Redirect

Outreach Workers

•Build rapport and trust with highest risk individuals

•MEDIATE CONFLICTSMEDIATE CONFLICTS

•Manage caseload of 20 participantsparticipants

•Provide support services

• Connect to positive alternatives

• Help highest‐risk get on and stay on a positive path

Violence Interrupters•Have respect of streetHave respect of street organizations

•Monitor the “pulse” of the•Monitor the  pulse  of the community

MEDIATE CONFLICTS•MEDIATE CONFLICTS

•Work to prevent retaliations

•Manage follow‐up after resolution of conflicts 

• Refer potential participants to Outreach staffto Outreach staff

Changing Normsg g

Changing Norms: Community Outcry

Changing Norms: Shooting Response

Changing Norms: Community Activity

For Additional Information:

Lori Toscano, Director

443.984.3566

Lori.Toscano@baltimorecity.gov

www.Facebook.com/BmoreYVP