Cure Violence

By Jamie Cetrone | Categories: | Comments Off on Cure Violence

Cure Violence was launched in Chicago and has since expanded to numerous sites across the United States. Cure Violence uses strategies and methods similar to disease control and prevention to prevent violence. The program aims to shift the thinking, policy, and practice of violence prevention so that violence is recognized and treated as a health issue. Cure Violence was founded by Dr. Gary Slutkin, former head of the World Health Organization’s Interventions Development Unit, and professor of Epidemiology and International Health from the University of Illinois-Chicago.

Cure Violence uses methods and strategies associated with disease control to stop the spread of violence. This model is centered on three essential elements, detecting and interrupting potentially violent conflicts, identifying and working with those at highest risk for involvement, and mobilizing communities to change existing norms. This work is conducted by trained health workers who engage those at highest risk in the community, schools, and hospitals. The community-based interventions are supported through partnerships with local organizations and city agencies, which provide financial and operational support. The hospital-based interventions, while connected to the community-based projects, are implemented in partnership with the trauma team, and social work and chaplaincy staff.

Beyond being integrated into the trauma team and providing direct assistance to patients, program staff collaborate with all departments engaged in treatment plan development and follow-up to reduce likelihood of reinjury. In collaboration with the community-level intervention, the model partners with all sectors, including community organizations, city agencies, faith and community leaders, and schools, to provide comprehensive prevention programming and support for those at highest risk of involvement in violence. Services provided may include counseling, crime victim compensation, employment, housing, education assistance, and case management.

The Cure Violence model has been replicated in 60 communities across the United States and has been independently evaluated numerous times. These evaluations have demonstrated large statistically significant reductions in shootings and killings of up to 73%. In addition to reductions in violence, the model has been shown changes in behavior and norms, such as reduced support for the use of violence within the target areas.