Violence Prevention Programs to Receive a Boost from State Grants

By Joe O’Leary

October 31 @ 10:00 am

Although homicides in Hartford have declined by more than 50% over the last year, according to news reports, public health officials recently announced support for programs working to curb gun violence in Connecticut cities, which experienced post-pandemic increases in violence.

That work on the ground is most often performed by local violence prevention and intervention programs, which help to educate members of the public, build community relationships, and connect at-risk youth with new opportunities and services.

To support these efforts, the Connecticut Department of Public Health recently announced it’s providing grants to these organizations to further their successes in gun violence reduction.

The DPH will provide $200,000 each to 10 organizations operating in Hartford, Bridgeport and New Haven, those organizations located in high-risk geographic areas in Connecticut due to their local proximity to gun violence.

The organizations include violence prevention groups that will provide cash aid to people impacted by violence; free classes and workshops to promote positive mental health connections; support services for high school students including school-based mentoring and youth development programming; and community outreach to the public.

Further organizations receiving funds include an environmental scan of Hartford’s violence prevention and intervention services, increased weekend and school holiday support for students and increased focus on mental health and social-emotional learning.

This is the latest part of the state’s Community Gun Violence Prevention Program efforts, which was initially established in 2022. In its 2023 report on the program, the Department of Public Health, which has oversight of the initiative, reported that among its first goals with the program was to develop a surveillance system of firearm homicides in the state.

Statistics show that Black and Hispanic males are significantly more likely to be affected by violence than white men and most violence takes place in six cities – from 2020 to 2023, Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport, Waterbury, Hamden and Stamford experienced at least 15 homicides.

Such data, combined with emergency department surveillance statistics, was used to find places in the state and demographics most connected to such violence, predominantly found to be urban centers. By investing directly in diversionary programs and efforts, DPH expects to see higher levels of progress.

Violence prevention projects and funding have a positive track record of reducing violence in communities, according to the Center for American Progress, which reported a 63% decline in gun violence in South Bronx, New York and 43% reductions in gun violence in Richmond, California. Baltimore also saw improved results in community violence outcomes through such programs.