Community Coalition Awarded Competitive Grant Funding to Develop a Youth and Community Violence Prevention Action Team
Recently, a team representing a variety of agencies, organizations, and community members across Shawnee County began meeting weekly to discuss community violence, current initiatives, and opportunities. This collaboration has taken a proactive stance in organizing and strategizing the launch of an evidence-based, community-led violence intervention program utilizing a public health approach. As one of 8 teams awarded funding by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), they are now equipped with the support resources needed to complete a comprehensive community violence assessment, and implement one or more Community Violence Intervention (CVI) strategies, engaging with training and technical assistance providers to assist with CVI implementation and training.
The team is currently in the process of engaging additional multidisciplinary stakeholders and community members, obtaining and reviewing wide-ranging datasets to understand violence risk and protective factors in our community, researching evidence-based Community Violence Intervention (CVI) strategies, and pursuing funding to implement the strategy selected. The NACCHO grant’s goal is to leverage multi-sector partnerships to enhance, not duplicate or run counter to, existing violence prevention efforts in the selected communities.
Unfortunately, Topeka and Shawnee County are currently experiencing a high burden of youth and community violence, particularly firearm homicide, disproportionately affecting communities of color. Topeka and Shawnee County recorded its most devastating year, with 35 homicides in 2023. Shockingly, 31% of victims were under 18 years old, with 60% succumbing to violence at the hands of adults. Firearms were used in 68% of 2023 homicides across all ages. This impact is magnified within the Black/African American community, with a homicide rate 10 times higher than that of white residents.
“As our community was grieving a violent time period, this team formed with the shared goal of taking action. Every individual and organization at the table thus far has shown exceptional dedication to creating an intentional, comprehensive, and holistic approach to community violence. The team is eager to begin additional collaborations and engagement of neighborhoods.” Teresa Taylor, Trauma Outreach & Forensic Program Manager, Stormont Vail Health.
YWCA Northeast Kansas will be the fiscal agent for this project. Courtland Davis, Director of Operations at YWCA Northeast Kansas stated, “This is an important first step – identifying the concerns and needs in the community. We will be bringing leaders to the table over the next several months from all sectors of our community, including people who are living in areas most affected by violence. Information will continue to be shared publicly as a plan forms. YWCA Northeast Kansas is on a mission to promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all, so this work is a natural extension of our mission and existing programs. We look forward to working with a wide array of community partners on this crucial issue in the months and years to come."
Current coalition members include:
Courtland Davis, Director of Operations, YWCA Northeast Kansas
Teresa Taylor, Trauma Outreach & Forensic Program Manager, Stormont Vail Health
Annie Buckland, Injury and Violence Prevention Coordinator, Stormont Vail Health
Teresa Fisher, Director, Shawnee County Health Department
Christina Valdiva-Alcala, Councilwoman, City of Topeka
Henry Harmon, Administrative Sergeant, Shawnee County Sheriff's Department
Joe Rucker, Captain, Deputy Director, Shawnee County Department of Corrections
Daniel Martin, Social Worker, Empowering People In Communities
Jake Regnier, Pamela Berry, Raymon Berry, Betsy Wiens, JUMP Violence Reduction Team
LaRonna Lassiter Saunders, Esq., My Better America & Bridging the Gap
Carl Frazier, Director, Topeka Center for Peace & Justice
Dustyn Whyte, Recreation Manager, Shawnee County Parks and Rec
Felecia Cunningham, SNCO Community Health Worker, Project COPE
Corey Fox, One Heart
Tony Barksdale
Derrick Hodam
Danielle Twemlow
Over the next several months, the coalition will be creating a more formal structure and reaching out to more organizations and the community for partnerships. To learn more about how to get involved, contact cvi@ywcaneks.org and stay tuned for more updates.
