NEW ORLEANS – The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) awarded the City of New Orleans Health Department three grants totaling over $500,000 to further the department’s efforts to create a healthier quality of life for New Orleans residents through violence prevention.
These grants will directly support the City’s comprehensive murder reduction strategy, NOLA FOR LIFE, and the interagency plan to improve the City’s response to domestic violence cases, Blueprint for Safety.
“Violence is a public health issue and is preventable, not inevitable, just like a host of other health issues,” said Charlotte Parent, director of the New Orleans Health Department. “These grants provide critical support to prevent violence as a part of NOLA FOR LIFE and the Blueprint for Safety. I thank the Department of Justice for investing in prevention and our community partners who continue to work with us to stop violence from happening before it occurs.”
To enhance the Invest in Prevention pillar of the NOLA FOR LIFE strategy, a $125,000 award from the DOJ’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention will to continue the Health Department’s work with the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention, a White House initiative focused on reducing youth violence and gang activity and improving public safety. The Health Department has been a part of the Forum since 2012, and this grant award will support implementation of a series of programs, including positive behavior interventions and supports (PBIS) in New Orleans public schools and engaging young people as partners in preventing youth violence.
Also supporting the NOLA FOR LIFE strategy is another $280,471 award from the DOJ’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. This award will enhance the Health Department’s efforts to help schools address the needs of children dealing with trauma. In collaboration with mental health providers, non-profit organizations and academic partners, the department will work with select schools to implement policies and train staff to support students who have been exposed to violence.
Charles West, director of Innovation Delivery Team for the City of New Orleans, said, “With this critical funding, we will build upon our ongoing efforts to change the trajectory of youth behavior. We now have another incredible opportunity to engage our youth and break the culture of violence in New Orleans.”
Finally, a $150,000 award from the DOJ’s Office on Violence Against Women will help advance the City’s Blueprint for Safety initiative, which provides a unified response to domestic violence cases. Since October 2014, the Health Department has worked across City agencies to implement a coordinated criminal justice response to domestic violence cases from 911 calls through probation and parole. New Orleans is one of only three cities in the country implementing this program, and the DOJ’s grant award will help ensure its long-term success.
