Violence Prevention & Intervention
HEALED people, heal people
Centers’ Violence Prevention and Intervention (VPI) department has a comprehensive, trauma-informed approach to violence prevention that works to reduce the impact of continued exposure to traumatic stress from community violence. Our goal is to provide supportive opportunities to both victims and perpetrators of violence that will change the trajectory of their lives.
Our Programs
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READI Chicago is an innovative response to gun violence in Chicago. We relentlessly engage men who are most highly impacted by gun violence, and connect them to cognitive behavioral therapy, paid transitional jobs, and support services.
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We are one of the city of Chicago’s selected organizations that provides comprehensive trauma-informed services for victims of violence and their families and other loved ones, including incident response and supporting impacted individuals through one-on-one interactions, support groups, and resource coordination.
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We partner with Chicago Public Schools to provide a positive, trusted adult presence for students as they travel to and from school. Safe Passage workers are posted on Safe Passage routes to support children traveling to and from school during arrival and dismissal bell times.
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This City of Chicago Community Re-entry program provides supportive services for returning residents who are transitioning from incarceration, have an arrest record, or have served prison terms. This program functions as a resource center to help clients connect to resources that will enhance their quality of life and assist them in completing any court requirements for probation, parole, or electronic monitoring.
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CNH houses two street outreach teams for the Great Bronzeville area, with one delegated to Washington Park and the other to Grand Boulevard. Street Outreach staff work to build relationships with those in their respective communities who are deemed "high-risk" in order to promote peace through conflict mediation. The efforts of the Street Outreach teams are done through response to critical incidents such as shootings and homicides in order to de-escalate tension and provide connection to resources for victims or families. Street Outreach staff engage with clients on street corners, in community centers, hospitals, and a variety of other settings with the goal of creating prosocial environments for the community.