Title
Violence Interruption Services
Action
Action:
A. Approve a contract with Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. in the amount of $897,537 for a one-year term for the provision of violence interruption services at two program sites,
B. Approve a contract with Urban League of Central Carolinas, Inc. in the amount of $450,000 for a one-year term for the provision of violence interruption services at one program site, and
C. Authorize the City Manager to execute, amend, and renew the contracts for up to two additional one-year terms with possible price adjustments consistent with the purpose for which the contracts were approved.
Body
Staff Resource(s):
Shawn Heath, Housing and Neighborhood Services
Julia Martin, City Manager’s Office
Explanation
§ On February 7, 2023, the city issued a Request for Proposal to continue violence interruption services at the existing Beatties Ford Road area site and to add two expansion sites (West Boulevard/Remount Road, and Nations Ford Road/Arrowood Road). Four proposals were received.
§ Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. has been selected to continue implementing violence interruption services at the Beatties Ford Road area site and the new West Boulevard/Remount Road site.
§ Urban League of Central Carolinas, Inc. has been selected to implement violence interruption services at the new Nations Ford Road/Arrowood Road site.
§ The violence interruption services focus on youth ages 14-25 that are at risk of perpetrating or becoming a victim of a violent incident.
§ Program activities include:
- identifying potential conflicts and individuals/groups at risk for violence,
- mediating disputes between individuals,
- interceding in group disputes to prevent acts of violence,
- meeting with individuals/groups at risk for retaliation,
- providing information regarding available resources (e.g., job trainings, education, substance abuse treatment, etc.), and
- partnering with community groups to promote nonviolence and change community norms.
Background
§ In 2020, the city and Mecklenburg County endorsed an interdisciplinary public health approach to violence prevention, with an initial focus on the Beatties Ford Road corridor.
§ On February 22, 2021, City Council ratified an interlocal agreement between the city and county in which the county provided a one-time payment of $250,000 to the city to implement a violence interruption program.
§ In May 2021, the city contracted with Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. to provide violence interruption services, modeled after Cure Violence Global’s violence prevention public health methodology. Cure Violence Global is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that uses a data-driven approach to help communities implement violence prevention programs guided by the understanding that violence is a health issue and that community partners and strategic partnerships are important keys to success.
§ On August 9, 2021, City Council accepted a grant in the amount of $1,200,000 from GreenLight Fund Charlotte to support the violence interruption services work.
§ On September 12, 2022, City Council accepted a grant in the amount of $1,000,000 from the United States Department of Justice to expand the implementation of the violence interruption services in Charlotte.
§ On May 16, 2023, the Urban Institute at UNC Charlotte released the year one evaluation of the violence interruption services program in the Beatties Ford Road area and found a statistically significant reduction in homicides with a firearm in the Beatties Ford Road area compared to similar neighborhoods, and that program participants gained knowledge and skills and have exhibited behaviors (e.g., higher academic achievement, educational aspirations) that protect youth from violence.
Charlotte Business INClusion
Per Charlotte Business INClusion Policy: Part C Section 2.1 (a) The city shall not establish Subcontracting Goals for Contracts where (a) there are no opportunities identified for the Contract; or (b) there are no MWBEs or SBEs certified to perform the scope of work that the city regards as realistic opportunities for subcontracting.
This contract meets the provisions of (a) - No subcontracting opportunities.
Fiscal Note
Funding: Neighborhood Development Grants Fund