The multnomah county health department (mchd) will take a public health approach to violence prevention in schools to bridge socio-ecological contexts and address shared risk/protective factors…

The Multnomah County Health Department (MCHD) received a $1,000,000 Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) under the STOP School Violence Program (CFDA 16.839). The goal of the project is to take a public health approach to violence prevention in schools, addressing systemic inequities that disproportionately impact Black, Indigenous, and other youth of color. MCHD will partner with two community-based organizations to (1) train school-based professionals in restorative practices, including peer mediation and de-escalation; (2) implement healing circles with youth to cultivate protective factors; and (3) support schools in implementing peer mediation programming. The project aims to bridge socio-ecological contexts and address shared risk/protective factors impacting multiple types of violence. The award period runs from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2027.

The multnomah county health department (mchd) will take a public health approach to violence prevention in schools to bridge socio-ecological contexts and address shared risk/protective factors impacting multiple types of individuals, interpersonal, and community violence. The project will address systemic inequities that fuel disproportionate impact of school violence on black, indigenous, and other people of color (bipoc) youth residing in lower socio-economic neighborhoods. Primary activities include: mchd will partner with two culturally specific community-based organizations (cbos) with strong relationships and presence in schools across multnomah county to (1) train school-based youth serving professionals in restorative practices including peer mediation, DE-escalation, and youth mental health awareness and early intervention; (2) implement healing circles with youth to cultivate the protective factors needed to prevent violence; and (3) support schools in implementing peer mediation programming. Partners include the six school districts covering the majority of multnomah county, the sun program, and culturally specific community-based organizations latino network and self-enhancement, INC. (SEI). Latino network and SEI will be subrecipients.