Office of Violence Prevention
Statement on mass shooting
This weekend, our city faced another tragic act of violence that occurred in our neighborhoods. Our thoughts, prayers and support continue to go out to the victims, families, and everyone else who has, in some way, been impacted.
The Office of Violence Prevention is housed within the New Orleans Health Department, because we recognize violence as a public health crisis. Our commitment is to work tirelessly on finding solutions for those affected by violence, as violence is a collective problem that hurts us all.
We know that its effects and aftermath can continue for months and years to come. Events like these can be emotionally triggering and create difficulties with physical and mental health for those affected. Understanding this process, we want to provide you with some local resources. If you need help finding someone to talk with to express grief, sorrow, anger, or any other emotion, please reach out to the Trauma Recovery Center that is housed in University Medical Center. Other available resources are listed on our flyer. We hope our community can continue to heal, and please do not hesitate to reach out to the Office or Violence Prevention and seek services if needed.
Updated 11/18/2024
The Office of Violence Prevention is responsible for leading the city’s intervention and reduction strategies by coordinating partnerships with health care institutions, community organizations, service providers, and academic expertise to prevent violence and promote peace. Our commitment is to foster a collaborative ecosystem where public health approaches drive innovative solutions to reduce violence, support victims, and create a resilient city where every individual can thrive without fear. Our programs emphasize cultural competence in their service delivery, ensuring that all individuals receive support that is respectful of their backgrounds and values.
Our Approach
Through an evidence-informed, public health approach, the Office of Violence Prevention supports the following initiatives and programs for combating violent crime in New Orleans.
Community-Based Violence Prevention
Ubuntu Village Peace Ambassadors
Ubuntu Village is a New Orleans-based nonprofit that works with families at a community-based level. Their Peace Ambassadors work in neighborhoods to build awareness, provide outreach and resources to those at risk of violence with the goal of promoting health, hope and healing.
Center for Restorative Approaches
The Center for Restorative Approaches (CRA) offers a unique program that interrupts the cycle of violence for New Orleans youth. When school officials identify escalating conflict a referral is made to CRA and a trained facilitator acts as a violence interrupter by engaging those involved in a restorative dialogue intervention before a conflict escalates to violence.
Health care-Based Violence Intervention
Hospital-based Violence Intervention Program
Centered in the City’s only Level 1 Trauma Center, the UMC HVIP responds in real time to victims of violence and their loved ones in order to provide immediate support, decrease retaliatory risk, and prevent further injury and trauma. Specially trained staff work during this critical period to help survivors heal and ensure strong connections with enhanced community and health resources.
Trauma Recovery Center
The Seeds of NOLA Trauma Recovery Center at UMC offers a wide range of trauma-informed services, case management, and specialized care, free of charge, to New Orleanians impacted by violence. Working in partnership with the community and hospital-based teams, they provide the framework for an ecosystem of healing interventions.
Mental Health Support
ThriveKids
ThriveKids provides intensive mental health services and case management within more than two dozen New Orleans public schools, and serves all NOPS students by streamlining and centralizing referrals and care coordination. Their goal is to remove barriers to access and promote improved health and academic outcomes for all children, as well as specialized services for pediatric trauma survivors and their families.
Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Coordination
The Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Program leads the city’s response to domestic violence and sexual assault by coordinating community-based and criminal justice partnerships and programs, providing training and technical assistance, supporting prevention programming for families impacted by violence, and advocating for policies that support survivors.
The Advocacy-Initiated Response (AIR) program follows up each reported instance of Domestic Abuse or Domestic Disturbance with outreach from a trained community advocate and assistance with a wide range of services and needs. OVP’s Domestic Abuse and Fatality Review is the first of its kind in the state and provides thorough, compassionate reviews of all domestic fatalities with recommendations for policy and criminal legal system change.
For more information, please visit: https://nola.gov/health/domestic-violence-and-sexual-assault-program/
Firearm Safe Storage
In partnership with Children’s Hospital, Be SMART for Kids, and other community organizations, OVP provides education about safe firearm storage and distributes free, high-quality biometric gun safes to New Orleans residents in a wide variety of settings.
For more information, please visit: https://www.chnola.org/about-us/gun-safety/
To learn more about gun safety, please visit: https://besmartforkids.org/
