The Wisconsin Community Safety Fund | Comprehensive Injury Center

The Wisconsin Community Safety Fund (WCSF) enhances community safety and individual well-being through evidence-informed prevention strategies. Our mission is to reach those most directly impacted by violence within local Wisconsin communities. Established through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) and continued through the 2025-2026 Community-Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI) via the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), this statewide grant program supports community-centered projects. We prioritize public health approaches that align with the CDC’s Prevention Resources for Action in the following priority areas:

- Intimate Partner Violence
- Sexual Violence
- Child Abuse and Neglect
- Suicide Prevention
- Youth Safety and Engagement
- Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
- Firearm Violence

WCSF Goals

The Wisconsin Community Safety Fund was created to support local, evidence-informed activities that enhance the safety and wellbeing of children, youth, and families throughout Wisconsin. The fund was launched in 2021 in response to historic increases in violence since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through an open application process, $10.4 million was awarded to 10 communities across the state to address safety priorities including suicide, domestic violence, community violence, youth engagement, and sexual assault.

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Increase Awareness of Violence as a Public Health Issue

Established and shared key messages about violence prevention being a strategy to achieve community health, safety and wellbeing using health equity as a lens.
The WCSF Program increases awareness of violence as a public health issue through funded community projects, participation in statewide networks, and intergovernmental partnerships.
WCSF grantees increase awareness of violence prevention as a part of achieving community safety at individual, group and community levels.
Participants in the grant-funded activities report gaining connections and information that enhances their wellbeing through the violence prevention projects.

Increase Capacity for Public Health Approaches to Violence Prevention

The WCSF program increased capacity for addressing violence as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic by administering a statewide fund including grant-making, training and technical assistance.
WCSF grantees increase capacity for advancing comprehensive community safety through prevention training with community members, professionals, and volunteers.
The WCSF Program demonstrates the success of the fund's investments through data collection which informs efforts to expand or replicate such investments as a statewide comprehensive approach to community safety & wellbeing.
Community stakeholders report the impact of increased capacity and have recommendations for a comprehensive approach for health, safety, and wellbeing at community level.

Increase Coordination of Community Safety Efforts Across the State

The WCSF program increases coordination of prevention efforts across the state as part of a comprehensive approach to community safety and wellbeing in Wisconsin.
WCSF grantees increase coordination of community safety efforts by participating in local partnerships and engaging local stakeholders to address root causes and individual needs.
Grantees get feedback from the community on how coordination helps to fill gaps, increase access and referral completion, and maintain.
Community projects are connected to regional, state, and national movements to support community safety & wellbeing.
Coordination efforts demonstrate positive impact on increasing access to resources, support, and making change on local level. that responds to community input.
Local and state partners and impacted. Community members report positive impact based on their previous input.

Inform a Comprehensive Statewide Approach to Community Safety and Wellbeing

The WCSF program utilizes a comprehensive approach to training and technical assistance to operationalize the WCSF mission, goals, and objectives.
The areas of training and technical assistance include grants management, project implementation and data and evaluation.
The WCSF community of practice ensures successful implementation of funded projects and contributes toward building a statewide network of practitioners who approach violence as a public health issue.
The data and evaluation results can be used to inform what a comprehensive approach to community safety and individual wellbeing could look like in Wisconsin and how it would benefit communities and system partners.

2021

Congress passes The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
In response to historic increases of in gun violence, suicide, and domestic violence, national groups led by the Fund Peace Coalition successfully advocate for violence prevention to be included as an ARPA funding priority
The Comprehensive Injury Center (CIC) receives a $16.6 million allocation of ARPA funding from the State of Wisconsin to aid in reducing violence stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.
MCW launches the Wisconsin Community Safety Fund as a pass-through grant program using a $10.4 million allocation of ARPA funding.

2022

The WCSF develops a Request for Applications (RFA) and grant selection process for the ARPA grant with guidance from experts in domestic violence, public health, philanthropy, youth development, emergency medicine, and violence prevention.
The ARPA RFA receives 29 applications. Ten finalists are selected.

2023

WCSF Program staff are hired to operationalize program framework and compliance.
Ten ARPA projects sign contracts and begin implementation with community engagement & partnership.
The WCSF launches Community of Practice to provide training & technical assistance to grantees.
The WCSF hosts two in-person convenings, five virtual trainings, and provides individual technical assistance to ARPA grantees to support project implementation, grant compliance, and program evaluation.

2024

All 10 ARPA projects reach full implementation.
The WCSF co-hosts the first statewide Community Violence Intervention convening with local, state, and national partners.
The WCSF hosts eight ARPA Community of Practice meetings with two being held in person.
The WCSF team provides extensive technical assistance to ARPA grantees and partners through 128 meetings and over 300 e-mails.

2025

Funding for the ARPA Grant ends on December 31, 2025.
The CIC receives $1.8 million in Community Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI) funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) to increase capacity for community-based organizations to serve high risk individuals though CVI strategies.
The WCSF develops an RFA and grant selection process for the CVIPI Grant.
The CVIPI RFA receives 15 applications. Five finalists are selected.

2026

Five CVIPI projects sign contracts and begin implementation.
WCSF launches a CVIPI Community of Practice to provide training and technical assistance to grantees.

CVIPI Grantees Across Wisconsin

2025-2027 CVIPI Grant

This funding is supported by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), US Department of Justice (USDOJ) Grant No 15PBJA-24-GK-03113-CVIP through the FY24 Community-Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI) Site-Based Grant Category 4: CVIPI Capacity Building for CBO’s via Intermediary Organizations. The CVIPI grant opportunity is designed to enhance the capacity of community violence intervention (CVI) programs in Wisconsin, to increase their ability to serve high risk individuals through CVI strategies, and enhance support for the personal and professional development of CVI team members, with a focus on communities carrying the highest rates of community violence.

Focused Interruption, Inc., located in the City of Madison, offers hospital-based violence intervention, mentoring, aftercare and recovery services related to community violence.
WestCare Wisconsin expanded into Community and Gun Violence Intervention (CVI/GVI) as a part of the Milwaukee County Credible Messengers Program in 2020 to respond to the needs of youth at highest risk for violence who reside in their service area in Milwaukee.

Uniting Garden Homes Inc. is a Milwaukee community-based nonprofit organization promoting community safety, wellness, and healing.
Asha Family Services, Inc. is a pioneer in developing strategies to address the interconnectedness between Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and Community Violence Intervention (CVI)
SAFE Haven of Racine, Inc. serves as a fiscal sponsor for Community Consulting LLC so that CCL can increase their organizational and professional capacity as a key partner in addressing community violence in the city of Racine.

2025-2026 Micro Grant

Using funds from our original ARPA allocation, we launched a one-time, limited funding opportunity—called the WCSF Micro Grant—to support program-related purchases under specific guidelines. Following a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process with more than 94 applicants, the following projects were selected:

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The Benedict Center, Inc. purchased a second eight-passenger van for the Sisters Program

The Benedict Center is a Milwaukee-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting women involved in the street sex trade and women who have been sex trafficked—one of the populations at highest risk for violence. The additional Sisters Program van expanded street outreach and case management services in neighborhoods with high rates of sex trade activity and increased transportation capacity to drop-in centers, where women can access advocacy and connections to critical safety net services.

Hope Through Restoration, Inc. purchased of a 16-passenger van

This van addressed transportation barriers that allowed participants to access education, employment opportunities, and mental health services—key supports for healing and violence prevention. Reliable transportation allows participants to consistently engage in programs that promote accountability, stability, and long-term self-sufficiency.

Greater Green Bay YMCA purchased a mobile outreach van

This vehicle brings trauma-informed, healing-centered programming directly to youth in underserved Green Bay neighborhoods. The van is equipped with supplies and materials to support engaging, trauma-informed activities and enables the YMCA to reach youth in at least 10 neighborhoods, expanding access to safe, supportive services where they are most needed.

Dr. Colleen Trevino purchased 468 biometric firearm safes and 250 trigger locks

These locks and safes help prevent firearm-related injuries and reduce repeat trauma care within the healthcare system. This initiative focuses on improving safe firearm storage practices by screening patients for unsafe storage, identifying immediate safety solutions, and providing firearm safety devices at the point of care to reduce risk and prevent future harm.

Dr. Patricia Marik organized a Psychological First Aid (PFA) training for 100 participants

This free, in-person training was delivered by experts from the Complex Trauma Training Institute and equipped community members with practical skills to respond effectively to individuals experiencing trauma and crisis, building local capacity for trauma-informed crisis response.

2022-2025 ARPA Grant

The Alma Center:
The Alma Center based in Milwaukee designed a statewide online and telephone intervention and prevention program called Breaking the Cycle to engage people at risk of, or who have a history of, causing harm to their intimate partner and/or family.
The City of Green Bay:
The City of Green Bay created an Office of Violence Prevention to increase community safety using stakeholder collaboration, resource coordination, community engagement, and community violence intervention strategies to address increased gun violence.
The City of Kenosha:
The City of Kenosha established the Key Emerging Leaders Academy to engage youth at highest risk for experiencing or engaging in community violence by increasing access to experiences that develop talents, life skills, and mentor relationships historically absent in six central neighborhoods.
The City of Racine:
The City of Racine established a citywide Office of Violence Prevention, engage local stakeholders, and develop a gun violence intervention plan with a focus on youth and developed based on community input and trends.
Gundersen Health System:
Gundersen Health System expanded its Crime Victim Services (CVS) unit to address increasingly complex needs related to sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and gender-based violence since the pandemic; add CVS advocates; invest in partnerships; and increase capacity for culturally responsive and equitable care in a six-county service area.
Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin:
Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin increased coordination to expand prevention, education, and outreach strategies to specific priority-populations to increase community safety and prevent sexual assault, gender-based violence, and child abuse.
The Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians:
The Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians expanded services that prevent and respond to sexual assault using culturally specific approaches such as “Inga-dabinawe’aag” and “Ing-azhe-ganoodaan,” and outreach through cultural settings to youth, adults, and Tribal community.
Southeast Asian Healing Center (SEAHC):
Southeast Asian Healing Center (SEAHC), based in Madison, addressed increased suicide risk and gender-based violence due to the pandemic using culturally specific strategies in Southeast Asian communities including education, prevention, and therapy with the goal of increasing overall community wellbeing.
The University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics:
The University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics expanded their hospital-linked Violence Intervention Program; formalize a partnership with community partner, Focused Interruption; and conduct a gun violence analysis to identify strategies to address prevention, reduction, and response to gun violence.
The N.E.W. Mental Health Connection's DRIVE Health Project:
The N.E.W. Mental Health Connection's DRIVE Health Project is a sustainable and culturally specific model to improve community wellbeing by addressing unmet mental/emotional needs and suicide risk factors in the Hmong, Black, and Hispanic/Latinx communities by creating Community Health Workers, a dedicated peer support phoneline, and mental health literacy and anti-stigma education campaigns.

Contact Us

For questions about our program, please contact us:

ThriveOn King
2153 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.
3rd Floor
Milwaukee, WI 53212

wcsf@mcw.edu