The Violence Prevention Initiative (VPI) is a special initiative of the MCW Consortium on Public and Community Health, funded by the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin endowment through the Healthier Wisconsin Partnership Program.
The VPI is a community-based initiative that aims to: 1) decrease rates of violence in identified areas of Milwaukee and, possibly, other areas of Wisconsin, and 2) strengthen community capacity to prevent future violence.
The initiative uses both a public health and asset-based model that focuses on community strengths. This approach emphasizes preventing violence before it occurs, making public health science integral to identifying effective policies and programs, and integrating the efforts of diverse scientific disciplines, local organizations, and communities. The initiative intends to complement, not replace, other community-MCW academic partnerships and the many other excellent community violence prevention projects underway.
By investing in a long-term initiative, collaborating with many people and groups, and addressing the complex problem of violence from a public health standpoint, the initiative seeks to decrease violence and prevent its increase in the future.
The VPI’s primary goals are to decrease rates of violence in identified areas of Milwaukee and, possibly, greater Wisconsin and to strengthen community capacity to prevent future violence. Read More
John Meurer, MD, MBA - Institute for Health and Society Staci Young, PhD - Department of Family and Community Medicine
In 2010, two community partnership teams were selected through a competitive application process to decrease violence in Milwaukee and strengthen community capacity to prevent future violence:
In 2011, two community partnership teams were selected through a competitive application process to decrease violence in Milwaukee and strengthen community capacity to prevent future violence:
Click here for updates on the progress of the overall VPI project.
Holton Youth and Family Center Collaborative (HYFCC) Including the following organizations: Wisconsin Community Services (WCS); Above the Clouds; Milwaukee Police Department (5th District); Minority Christian Coaches Association (MCCA); Malaika Early Learning Center; Running Rebels; Safe & Sound
Project Progress Report Summary for the time period of 7/1/2011 - 12/31/2011
United Neighborhood Centers of Milwaukee (UNCOM) Violence Prevention Initiative Including the following organizations: Agape Community Center; COA Youth & Family Centers; Journey House; Milwaukee Christian Center; Neighborhood House of Milwaukee; Next Door Foundation; Northcott Neighborhood House; Silver Spring Neighborhood Center
Ripple Effect Milwaukee: Spreading Peace and Building Communities (REM) Including the following organizations: Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee; St. Charles Youth & Family Services, Inc.; Marquette University Center for Peacemaking (CfP); Vistelar, LLC; Casa Romero Renewal Center, Inc.; Milwaukee Public Theatre
Safe Schools Healthy Students Lindsay Heights Initiative Including the following organizations: Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS); Milwaukee Fire Department; Children's Service Society of Wisconsin; YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee (specifically Northside & Parklawn YMCA Family Centers)