A Public Health Approach to Safety
Public Safety Commission
June 24, 2022
Advancing Peace – A Public Health Model
Interrupt
Transmission of
Violence
Identify those at
highest risk of harm
and victimization
Change
Community norms to
encourage collective
care
Early Prevention/
Pre-Intervention
Increase
opportunities
for stable social,
economic, and
emotional
development
to increase pathways
for success over the
life course
Prevent violent events
before they happen
Promote community
connection and belonging
Invest in individuals and
communities to enhance
quality of life and reduce
the propensity of violence
Advance Peace
and heal
communities
• Increase economic and social mobility
• Increase pro-social, violence interruption
opportunities
• Increase community policing
• Increase neighborhood social connectedness
Gun Violence
• Increase skills in problem solving non-violently
• Increase connection to a caring adult and prosocial peers • Increase employment opportunities
• Increase connection to mental health services and
various healing practices
Addressing Violence – Increasing Protective Factors
Youth Violence
Child Abuse and Family Violence Community Violence
• Increase social connected to schools and
neighborhood environment
• Increase adoption of pro-social norms that are
inclusive of all, including formerly incarcerated
persons and their families
• Increase community investments in impacted
communities
• Increase skills in problem solving non-violently
• Strengthen family protective factors (DCFS)
• Increase family support and connectedness
• Increase neighborhood social connectedness
Advancing Peace Initiative
Interrupt
Transmission of
Violence
Identify those at
highest risk of harm
and victimization
Change
Community norms to
encourage collective
care
Early Prevention/
Pre-Intervention
Increase
opportunities
for stable social,
economic, and
emotional
development
to increase pathways
for success over the
life course
Prevent violent events
before they happen
Promote community
connection and belonging
Invest in individuals and
communities to enhance
quality of life and reduce
the propensity of violence
Advance Peace
and heal
communities
Advancing Peace Initiative
PROGRAM SUMMARY: The Long Beach Advancing Peace Initiative (LBAP) improves safety and well -being for everyone in Long Beach by using a collective impact approach. The four goals of LBAP are to increase social connectedness, economic opportunities, health and safety outcomes, and provide trauma -informed approaches to high gun, crime and low economic mobility neighborhoods.
WHAT WE DO:
• Long Beach Advancing Peace Steering Committee leads community engagement efforts to increase social connectedness, brings resources directly into neighborhoods, and informs the city on priority areas to address safety. • Ideas for initiatives like the Gun Campaign, Safe Passage and Long Beach Activating Safe Communities have been birthed from LBAP.
• In Summer of 2021, we held five neighborhood events that reached 1,800 community members. The goal for 2022 is to reach 2,000 youth and families through these events.
Long Beach Activating Safe Communities
Interrupt
Transmission of
Violence
Identify those at
highest risk of harm
and victimization
Change
Community norms to
encourage collective
care
Early Prevention/
Pre-Intervention
Increase
opportunities
for stable social,
economic, and
emotional
development
to increase pathways
for success over the
life course
Prevent violent events
before they happen
Promote community
connection and belonging
Invest in individuals and
communities to enhance
quality of life and reduce
the propensity of violence
Advance Peace
and heal
communities
Long Beach Activating Safe Communities (ASC)
PROGRAM SUMMARY: ASC establishes a comprehensive response to gun violence by intervening to deescalate situations that can potentially lead to violence and provide trauma -informed services to victims of gun violence and their families. ASC, currently piloted in the Washington neighborhood, will expand to 13 additional neighborhoods in North and Central Long Beach that are disproportionately impacted by gun violence. Partners include the Police Department, Economic Development, Parks, Recreation and Marine, Long Beach Unified School District, the Urban Peace Institute, the LA County Office of Violence Prevention, Toberman House Inc., and community - based organizations.
WHAT WE DO:
• Developed the Gun Violence Response Protocol, a process for DHHS and PD to coordinate efforts when incidents of gun violence occur. • Police provides immediate response for enforcement and investigation. DHHS provides wrap -around, trauma -informed care to individuals/families affected. • DHHS deploys civilian Peacekeepers to connect victims impacted by gun - related incidents to supportive services and economic opportunities. • The program reduces further violent crimes and retaliation by providing tools for de-escalation and community care.
Safe Passages
Interrupt
Transmission of
Violence
Identify those at
highest risk of harm
and victimization
Change
Community norms to
encourage collective
care
Early Prevention/
Pre-Intervention
Increase
opportunities
for stable social,
economic, and
emotional
development
to increase pathways
for success over the
life course
Prevent violent events
before they happen
Promote community
connection and belonging
Invest in individuals and
communities to enhance
quality of life and reduce
the propensity of violence
Advance Peace
and heal
communities
Safe Passages
PROGRAM SUMMARY: Focus on ensuring the safety of middle and high school students as they walk to and from school in areas highly impacted by crime and pedestrian injury.
WHAT WE DO:
• Community Peacekeepers and volunteers are placed along school routes to provide children and families with safe passages • Increase opportunities for residents to meet one another and promote community connection
• Peacekeepers and volunteers form relationships with youth and encourage/support them
• Currently offered at Washington Middle School in partnership with Habitat for Humanity
• Program expansion is expected to Jordan High School, Poly High, and two other middle schools (TBA)
• In the FY 22 -23 school year, we will create business havens along the safe passage corridors where youth can enter in cases of emergency
Long Beach Reentry Program
Interrupt
Transmission of
Violence
Identify those at
highest risk of harm
and victimization
Change
Community norms to
encourage collective
care
Early Prevention/
Pre-Intervention
Increase
opportunities
for stable social,
economic, and
emotional
development
to increase pathways
for success over the
life course
Prevent violent events
before they happen
Promote community
connection and belonging
Invest in individuals and
communities to enhance
quality of life and reduce
the propensity of violence
Advance Peace
and heal
communities
Long Beach Reentry Program
PROGRAM SUMMARY: Launched in April 2022, the program is in its early phases of development. It will focus on an integrated service approach to support formerly incarcerated persons and their families. The goal is to decrease recidivism by providing a safe, welcoming environment where justice -involved persons and their families can thrive.
WHAT WE PLAN TO DO:
• Strengthen a reentry network of providers to serve reentry individuals and their families and ensure access to essential services.
• Provide referrals to case management, employment, education, substance use treatment, and mental health services.
ELIGIBILITY :
• Age 18 +
• Formerly incarcerated individual
• Family member of a formerly incarcerated individual
• City of Long Beach Resident
• Non-Sex Offender
Human Trafficking Diversion- My Sister's Keeper
Interrupt
Transmission of
Violence
Identify those at
highest risk of harm
and victimization
Change
Community norms to
encourage collective
care
Early Prevention/
Pre-Intervention
Increase
opportunities
for stable social,
economic, and
emotional
development
to increase pathways
for success over the
life course
Prevent violent events
before they happen
Promote community
connection and belonging
Invest in individuals and
communities to enhance
quality of life and reduce
the propensity of violence
Advance Peace
and heal
communities
Human Trafficking Diversion- My Sister's Keeper
PROGRAM SUMMARY: Provides support for victims of labor and sex trafficking to regain a sense of self determination and emerge back into healthy homes, relationships and communities. The program also provides human trafficking awareness trainings and presentations.
WHAT WE DO:
A collaboration with various city departments and community organizations to provide:
• Case management and linkages to support services
• Peer advocacy and accompaniment
• Trauma and mental health counseling
• Tattoo removal
• Employment and education assistance
• Misdemeanor case expungement
ELIGIBILITY:
• Ages 16+
• Persons who have experienced labor and/or sex trafficking • Family members of human trafficking victims
Intradepartmental Collaboration and Community Partnerships Advancing
Peace
Health
Dept
Community
Members
CBOs
Fire
Dept
Economic
Development
Parks,
Recreation
& Marine
Office of
the City
Manager
Library
Services
Development
Services
City
Prosecutor
Disaster
Prep
Human
Resources
Police
Dept
Advancing Peace – A Public Health Model
Early Prevention/Pre-Intervention: Increasing opportunities for social, economic, and emotional development to increase pathways for success over the life course. •Host the Rocket Academy Mentorship Program and Girls Firecamp Fire Department
•Early childhood learning experiences to promote school success, family learning centers, and support for parentsLibrary Services •Incentivize local hiring practices and bolster guaranteed income Economic Development
•Youth engagement and mentoring
Police Department
•Support mix of land uses to increase access to community spaces, services, and resourcesDevelopment Services
•Early childhood programming and engagement
Parks, Recreation, and Marine
•Strengthening families programming, investing in maternal and child health, mental health, housing, nutrition security, and health care accessHealth Department Promote community connection and belonging
Advancing Peace – A Public Health Model
• Creating opportunities for families and residents to
connectLibrary Services
• Employment training programs that are rooted in
restorative justice practices Economic Development
• Holiday/Community Block Party Engagements, Social
Media Engagement, Spark of Love Toy DriveFire Department • Community Police Academy, Neighborhood walksPolice Department • Neighborhood and community leadership programsDevelopment Services • Allocate funding to events that build positive human
connection, focus on racial equityCity Manager’s Office • Activating community spaces with fitness and health
activities and focusing on health equityHealth Department Invest in individuals and communities to enhance quality of life and reduce the propensity of violence
Advancing Peace – A Public Health Model
•Job training and employment opportunities for underserved and underrepresented communities Economic Development
•Highschool Pathways at Jordan High School
Fire Department
•Expungement Clinics
City Prosecutor
•Clinician in jail program, juvenile diversion programs, and Quality of Life TeamPolice Department
•Services for people experiencing homeless, programming through the Office of Youth Development, and addressing mental healthHealth Department Prevent violent events before they happen
Advancing Peace – A Public Health Model
• Deterrence patrols and
neighborhood walksPolice Department
• De-escalation and intervention for
patrons in need of supportLibrary Services
• Situational awareness training to
first responders
Disaster
Preparedness
• First Responder Mental Health
Awareness Training Fire Department
• De-escalation training for staffHuman Resources
• Early Childhood Hub and state expansion of supported ECE opportunities (LBRA)
• Nutrition Security program (LBRA)
• Expansion of Resource Line and referral system to additional providers (LBRA)
• Community Crisis Response
• Expansion of LBASC
• Improving mental health access and coordination
• Expansion of Safe Passages (at the request of Council) • Possibility of expanded shared use agreements to create additional safe learning and recreational spaces
Looking Ahead
• An investment in public health and human services is an investment in public safety
• Investments in all areas of the model are important. The earlier the investments, the possibility of longer term, sustained
change. Generational investment/prevention is essential to slow the flow into the rest of the systems.
• Collective and coordinated work is essential to achieving peace across the City. It is all our responsibility together. No one department can cause the necessary long-term change.
Concluding Thoughts
Thank you
Kelly Colopy
Director of Health and Human Services
Erica Valencia-Adachi
Collective Impact Bureau Manager
Ana Lopez
Community Impact Division Officer