Multi-Level Approach to Youth Violence Prevention

Principal Investigator
Project Dates
  • 2010-2015
Funding
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

From 2010-2015, MI-YVPC coordinated several programs within the intervention area that sought to reduce violence and create a supportive and healthy environment for youth, ages 10-24. The array of six programs were designed to focus on the individual, on relationships, or on the community. The array of programs were also designed to reach both low and high risk youth. Each program was organized or led by a community organization.

Project Fact Sheet

Prevention Strategy

Individual-Focused

  • Youth Empowerment Solutions: Empowers youth to create community change and connects them with adult advocates. (Lead community organization: Church Without Walls)
  • Project Sync: Provides one-on-one counseling to youth treated at Hurley Medical Center’s emergency department. (Lead community organization: Hurley Medical Center)

Relationship-Focused

  • Fathers and Sons: Builds stronger relations between adolescent boys and their fathers. (Lead community organization: Flint Odyssey House Health Awareness Center)
  • Mentoring: Pairs adult role models with youth who have been referred by Family Court or Teen Jury. (Lead community organization: Boys and Girls Club of Greater Flint)

Community-Focused

  • Clean & Green: Partners with local organizations to improve and maintain vacant properties. (Lead community organization: Genesee County Land Bank)
  • Community Mobilization: Assists residents, community organizations, and police officers in working together. (Lead organization: MSU School of Criminal Justice)

Intervention Area

  • These programs were focused in a defined area of Flint Michigan surrounding Hurley Hospital, west to Forest Hill Ave. (above Flushing Rd) and north to West Dayton and East Rankin Streets. The southern border is the Flint River. The residents who lived within this area were eligible to participant in the MI-YVPC programs. These boundaries form a distinct area known as the Durant-Tuuri-Mott neighborhood. Historically, the Flint River has separated the predominantly African American north side from downtown Flint.

    The intervention community was a single geographic area of nearly 2 square miles. After reviewing crime incident data for this area with key stakeholders, this area was selected because of its high rates of youth violent crime, but also because of its community assets including:

    • Active community organizations
    • A major hospital (Hurley)
    • Two nearby Universities (Kettering University and the University of Michigan – Flint)
    • Nearby neighborhoods that show early signs of redevelopment

    Mobilizing the resources of these community assets should help promote the sustainability of successful intervention strategies.

 Learn more about the Prevention Strategy

Evaluation Strategy

The evaluation strategy is based on several components. We are examining spatial analysis of crime incidents, community survey data, and hospital injury data in the intervention neighborhood, in comparison to all other neighborhoods across the city. We are also comparing the outcomes in the intervention area to a comparison area with similar characteristics.

In addition, we are conducting a process evaluation of each individual program and an overall evaluation of the Center.

There are four main components to the evaluation:

  1. Parcel Assessments
  2. Violent Crime Data
  3. Injury Data
  4. The Speak to Your Health!Community survey

We are currently in our final year and analyzing the crime data and outcomes from the programs. We will be sharing our results through peer reviewed publications, community events and through our website and social media.

An image of the MI-YVPC Logic Model flow chart for the Multi-Level Approach to Youth Violence Prevention project

Logic Model (click for larger image)

 Learn more about the Evaluation Strategy

Engaging Youth

Community involvement is an essential component in youth violence prevention. In 2011, the MI-YVPC formed the Community Outreach Committee to develop strategies to increase participation and promote its programs to youth and families in the focus neighborhoods. These strategies include drawing, essay, and Youtube video contests, and a safe and Healthy futures Community festival.

 Learn more about these strategies and events

Partners

  • Genesee County Health Department
  • Hurley Medical Center
  • Boys and Girls Club of Greater Flint
  • Genesee County Land Bank
  • Michigan State University School of Criminal Justice
  • Flint Odyssey House Health Awareness Center
  • University of Michigan School of Public Health
  • University of Michigan Medical School
  • Flint Police Department
  • Church Without Walls