Baltimore City Health Department National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention Expansion Project

OJJDP's State and Community Development Awards program was established to provide grants and cooperative agreements to organizations that OJJDP has selected for funds in prior years. This program has been authorized by an Act appropriating funds for the Department of Justice.

The National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention (Forum) was established by the White House in 2011 and is a network of cities united in their drive to prevent youth violence with federal agencies and private partners. The Forum has expanded to a total of 15 cities that are implementing strategies and evidenced-based programs to reduce youth violence. The Departments of Justice, Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Labor as well as the Corporation for National and Community Service and the Office of National Drug Control Policy provide key supports to the Forum cities. OJJDP provides funding to support the core activities in Forum cities linked to the approved comprehensive plans.

One goal of the proposed project is to provide a supportive environment for every student to graduate from high school ready to participate in the community and in a career. As a means of addressing school climate issues, the Baltimore City Health Department and the Baltimore Public School System (BCPS) propose to enhance the capacity of schools to successfully implement and sustain the school-wide positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) model. A Training/ Coaching Coordinator will provide school-level PBIS coaches with intensive supports including coaching, consultation, training, modeling, resources and incentives, and problem-solving skills to increase the competency of the school staff in PBIS implementation. It is expected that enhanced implementation of PBIS will help improve overall school climate and successfully retain youth who are at-risk of dropping out of school.

To meet the needs of Baltimore City youth who have already dropped out of school, the Baltimore City Health Department will collaborate with the BCPS Re-engagement Center (REC) to identify and recruit opportunity youth age 16-24 who are eligible for REC assistance; enhance REC services and supports by engaging BCHD's network and Forum partners; develop a life skills and coping strategies curriculum for REC students; and facilitate trauma-informed professional development for REC and other BCPS staff. Progress will be measured according to the stipulated Forum performance measures as well as project-specific measures.

CA/NCF

The National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention (Forum) was established by the White House in 2011 and is a network of cities united in their drive to prevent youth violence with federal agencies and private partners. The Forum has expanded to a total of 15 cities that are implementing strategies and evidenced-based programs to reduce youth violence. The Departments of Justice, Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Labor as well as the Corporation for National and Community Service and the Office of National Drug Control Policy provide key supports to the Forum cities. OJJDP provides funding to support the core activities in Forum cities linked to the approved comprehensive plans.

The Baltimore City Health Department will use FY 16 National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention Expansion Project funds to implement a comprehensive youth violence prevention plan that integrates law enforcement, community mobilization, and public health models in the application of health promotion and disease prevention efforts to deliver violence-free communities. The partnership with the school-system to implement the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) model will also continue under this supplement. Building on the Mayor's Violent Crime Reduction Enhancement Initiative, a multi-faceted strategy for systematically responding to and decreasing violent crime, Baltimore City Health Department will work with all partners to help ensure that all Baltimore residents are healthy, safe and thriving. CA/NCF