Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence

Who are we?

We have formed a sub-group of 5 Streetworkers and formed the Streetworkers Coordinated Victim Team.

Streetworkers have unprecedented access and knowledge to youth and families in Providence. The Streetworkers in the short time of their existence have been heavily utilized by victimized youth and their families. The response and gratitude are often overwhelming. Victims from poor and traditionally under-served communities easily relate to the Streetworkers who come from their neighborhood, and share a history together.

The Streetworkers program is structured as a safety net. We propose, based on demonstrated need, to devote coordinated effort to a sub-program in sole support of victim’s need.

Our goal is to provide:

DIRECT CLIENT SERVICES:

• Crisis Intervention
• Referrals
• 24-hour on call – will come to them
• hospital visits/advocacy
• court advocacy

COMMUNITY INTERVENTIONS

• Support/advocacy for families
• Prevent Retaliation
• Mediate conflicts – eliminate the underlying problems
• Empower victims to take a stand/solve their own problems
• stem revictimization, prevent criminal response by victim

Our method is to use the extensive outreach and relationships in the community that the Streetworkers program has, and devote a coordinated effort to support and help victims of violent crimes.

Our Streetworkers form a inside-the-community support network, helping victims help themselves.

Streetworkers have unprecedented access and knowledge to youth and families in Providence. The Streetworkers in the short time of their existence have been heavily utilized by victimized youth and their families. The response and gratitude are often overwhelming. Victims from poor and traditionally under-served communities easily relate to the Streetworkers who come from their neighborhood, and share a history together.

The Streetworkers program is structured as a safety net. We propose, based on demonstrated need, to devote coordinated effort to a sub-program in sole support of victim’s need. Coordinated Victim team of Streetworkers meet weekly with supervisor to review victim support, and need assessment. Referral monitoring and follow-up computerized with the use of client electronic flies.

Regular contacts with law enforcement and courts, and escort of families on court dates. On-going assessmant of risks posed to families of victims, and use of extensive Streetworkers outreach contacts to mediate tensions, and conflicts. When appropriate support family in contacts with police.

Prioritize families with greatest need. Direct extra resources towards victims and their families. Help with translation when appropriate. Devote specific attention and effort into reconnecting victims into regular functions of family, community, schools, and work.

What do we stand for?

Poverty is a significant problem in the City of Providence. Citywide, 46,688 people (29.1% of the population) lived in poverty as of the 2000 Census. It is widely accepted that rates of violence are high in areas that have large concentrations of poor and unemployed people, crowded housing, residential instability, family disruption, diminished private economic activity, and limited positive opportunity for youth and adults (Reiss & Roth, 1993; Sampson & Lauritsen, 1994). Rates of violence are also high in neighborhoods where there is low community participation, disorganization, and a lack of cohesion. People living in these types of communities tend to be socially isolated and exhibit low levels of attachment to the commmunity - factors that also limit their ability to supervise and control adoslescent peer groups, especially gangs (Sampson & Lauritesn, 1994). The communities in which the Institute focuses its work meet all these criteria. According to the 2000 Census, the Southside, where the Institute's main office is located, had a median household income of $20,902, with 37.5% of the population living below the Federal Poverty Line (FPL). Rhode Island Kids Count, a local affiliate of a nationally recognized data collection organization, estimates that 25% of all Providence students change schools each year, and 30% change residences. This type of upheaval has tremendous effects on stability, resiliency, and relationships with supportive adults. The stresses faced by young people and their families are enormous, reducing their ability to cope with change.

The Institute directs the Nonviolence Streetworkers to hot-spots of gun violence. The rates of violence are clearly above the city average in our focus areas of South Providence, the West End, Smith Hill, and Downtown. An examination of calls for shots fired in 2002 eliminates this skew, and shows the prevalence of gun violence in South Providence, Mouth Hope, Smith Hill, the West End, and Elmwood (Providence Police, US Census, Providence Plan). Data maps for Shots Fired Calls, Aggravated Assault, and Violent Crime are included in Appendix D. Nonviolence Streetworkers work with the community and law enforcement to identify problem areas, and to come up with comprehensive, asset-based solutions. We work closely with other organizations to ensure continuity of services, including Family Service of Rhode Island, Tides Family Service, the Department of Children, Youth, and Families, Housing Court, the Providence School Department Office of Dropout Prevention, and NetWORK RI job training programs, as well as community-based housing groups and faith communities.

As described above, the need for the Nonviolence Streetworkers Program was brought to our attention by the community itself, spearheaded by parents who lost children to violence. Though there is a variety of resources available for victim services, very few of them have staff constantly present at night, on weekends, or on holidays. Many agencies meet with existing clients in off hours, but very few will perform intakes outside of regular business hours. Even fewer come to speak with a client in their own home, at the hospital, or in any other community location. The Nonviolence Streeworkers live in the communities in which they work, and often know the families personally. Utilizing an asset-based harm reduction model, the Nonviolence Streetworkers meet people where they are and help them asses their strengths and needs. Nonviolence Streetworkers provide advocacy and support while their clients make incremental change, and to gain confidence to cope with victimization. The Streetworkers work intensively with out-of-school youth, helping them re-enroll in school or find GED or trade programs. They provide support and crisis intervention for young people in school, helping to alleviate conditions which might lead to their dropping out. They also work with clients’ families to help them meet their basic needs, including safe and affordable housing, food, and clothing. Nonviolence Streetworkers coordinate with law enforcement to identify problem areas and develop alternative responses to violence in the community. In the words of one of our Streetworkers, their job is "to show people that there is hope, that change is possible, and that they can be a part of the change."

The Nonviolence Streetworkers Program is one of the main outreach programs for the City of Providence, and receives support form the Providence Police Department, the Mayor’s Office, and the Providence School Department. We also collaborate closely with the Department of Children, Youth, and Families, the Rhode Island Training School, and juvenile re-entry programs to ensure continuity of support for youth returning from incarceration. We provide innovative opportunities for young people to commit to nonviolence in all aspects of their lives. Rather than ignoring the root causes of the violence plaguing our city, the Nonviolence Streetworkers take a preventative approach by reaching potential violent offenders in their own neighborhoods, and offering them the resources and tools to build more hopeful and productive futures. By working outside the existing system, the Streetworkers are able to draw attention to extant service gaps, formulate creative responses, and raise the overall bar for youth service delivery programs. The Nonviolence Streetworkers Program has already exceeded expectations for its first year of operation in less than nine months. The Streetworkers have had the opportunity to work on the ground for long enough to identify ongoing training needs. The Institute is committeed to offeing its staff the opportunity for ongoing professional development, and is in the process of planning a monthly series of workshops on relevant topics, as addressed below.

The Streetworkers program request under VOCA stems from an acute need for support the Streetworkers encounter working with the families of homicide, shooting, and abuse of youth and young adults in the city of Providence.

Sample involvement of Streetworkers with victims of violent crime in past year:

• Homicide, supported family emotionally at the emergency Room, supported younger siblings, resource and funeral arrangements. Streetworkers supported family use of Law enforcement, and dissuaded the route of retaliation.
• Homicide: Streetworkers supported mother and siblings, helped with bills and relocation, helped with grieving and memorial. Intervention with threats made towards family.
• Homicide: Support to family, and young friends. Help prevent retaliation(Gang related). On-going support to sibling in school, and young sibling who works.
• Homicide: support of family, connected to food program, help with bills. Streetworkers secured safety for family, and another service agency’s staff, through its direct, ongoing contacts with rival gangs.
• Homicide: Support to family with a long history of victimization. Siblings on a constant support and contact with our Streetworkers. Enrolled and transported to sports activities.
• Homicide: younger sibling part of Streetworkers youth leadership crew.
• Female victims of neighborhood rivalries. Participants in weekly Streetworkers young women’s mediation group.
• Youth victimized in schools, utilize safety transfer by Streetworkers program in collaboration with the office of drop-out prevention in Providence school department.
• Streetworkers supported youth and families who have been victims of beatings and intimidation shots at houses as part of gang recruitment efforts. Streetworkers put a stop to these efforts.
• Domestic Violence: through coordinated advocacy with the police, Attorney General’s office and the courts, and a seven year long abusive relationship ended in time served and mandatory drug rehabilitation program for the abuser. The victim, previously lost her belief in the justice system. Her teenage son was filled with growing rage. The positive resolution of the case went a long way towards restoring the mother and son’s trust in justice. The mother now volunteers at the Institute.

We currently have eight Streetworkers. Two are Cambodian-American workers with extensive ties to the South-East asian community. Six Streetworkers are African-American with extensive connections on the South-side, Camp Street, Chad Brown, Manton Heights, Smith Hill, and Olnyville.

What is our action plan?

Streetworkers have unprecedented access and knowledge to youth and families in Providence. The Streetworkers in the short time of their existence have been heavily utilized by victimized youth and their families. The response and gratitude are often overwhelming. Victims from poor and traditionally under-served communities easily relate to the Streetworkers who come from their neighborhood, and share a history together. The Streetworkers see the need to increase their ability to serve by devoting time of five streetworkers to coordinating and deepening the support they provide to victims, the results they receive from service agencies. The Streetworkers program is structured as a safety net. We propose, based on demonstrated need, to devote coordinated effort to a sub-program in sole support of victim’s need.

Coordinated Victim team of Streetworkers meets weekly with supervisor to review victim support, and need assessment. Referral monitoring and follow-up computerized with the use of client electronic flies.

Regular contacts with law enforcement and courts, and escort of families on court dates. On-going assessmant of risks posed to families of victims, and use of extensive Streetworkers outreach contacts to mediate tensions, and conflicts. When appropriate support family in contacts with police.

Prioritize families with greatest need. Direct extra resources towards victims and their families. Help with translation when appropriate

How do we measure ourselves?

In addition to our contracted professional evaluation through roger Williams university, we have the following goals and measurements we pose to our Streetworkers:

• Are Streetworkers in contact knowledgeable with victims in their assigned community?
• Are victims utilizing 24 hour a day calling option to the Streetworkers?
• Has advocacy and referral resulted in better responsiveness and service to family?
• Has victim and family used the justice system well?
• Has victim and family join regular participation and roles within community.
• has on-going relationship and trust built between Streetworker and victim and their family?
• Has victim, if in appropriate age, remained/re-enrolled in school?
• Has retaliation (cycle of violence) been averted.

Teny O. Gross, Executive Director
Institute for Study and Practice of Nonviolence
239 Oxford Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02905
Telephone: (401) 461-6164
Web Page: http://www.nonviolenceinstitute.org
E-Mail: teny@nonviolenceinstitute.org