The purpose of AdHoc’s comprehensive COMBAT-funded Violence Prevention Services is to reduce the impact of violent crime in Jackson County neighborhoods and the potential for further violence. These services correspond to the COMBAT Community Violence Prevention focus area.  

Our target population is individuals and families living in high crime, economically-distressed neighborhoods that: (a) have lost a loved one due to homicide, (b) were victims of gun violence or other types of assault or (c) were witnesses to violence. 
    
We seek to reduce the impact of violence and reduce the potential for retaliation or further harm by focusing on psycho-social healing using two main, existing prevention services, Crisis Case Management and Counseling with licensed therapists.

CRISIS CASE MANAGEMENT is provided to individuals and families affected by violence (and to returning offenders) to help them gain stability following a violent event and reduce the possiblity of retaliation or further harm. We address needs such as loss of income, funeral costs, legal proceedings related to the death or assault, occasional relocation assistance for victim/witness and family safety, and other needs. 

Most Crisis Case Management support is initiated through self-referral calls, through walk-ins to our office, and through referrals from community agencies. In addition, the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office makes written referrals, and the police also make referrals. 

When Prosecutor’s Office makes the referral, we offer the same Case Management services described above, but we are also able to contract for repairs to the victim or witness’s home due to the violent incident (e.g. repair of bullet holes and related damage) in order to reduce trauma. Originally a special initiative of the Prosecutor’s Office, Case Management for these clients is called Caring for Crime Survivors.

FREE, IN-HOME, TRAUMA- AND GRIEF COUNSELING by licensed therapists is often accessed through our Crisis Case Management services, as staff members identify individuals/families experiencing symptoms of trauma and grief. Counseling helps clients develop healthy behaviors in response to the trauma of violence, bringing healing and health versus debilitating depression or destructive coping behaviors such as substance abuse or retaliatory violence that teardown families and communities. Counseling is provided at no cost, in the client’s home or other preferred location, available morning, afternoon, evening and on weekends.  

We expect to serve a total of 400 unduplicated individuals or family units annualy through Violence Prevention Services, including 250 that self-refer or are referred to us from community providers or the police; 120 referred by the Prosecutor’s Office; and 30 Counseling Only clients who do not access Counseling through Case Management. (Approximately 100 individuals/family units access our Counseling services each year, but we estimate that around 70 were initially Case Management clients.)

OUTCOME: By providing Crisis Case Management and Counseling, victims, their families, and witnesses impacted by a violent crime will begin to take steps toward stability in their daily lives and experience improved mental health – reducing their level of anger and trauma and pursuing healing instead of retaliation.

COMBAT Funding: $260,000.00