Caught in the Crossfire Youth Violence Intervention/Prevention Program

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A Program of Youth ALIVE!
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Violence Statistics

• In 2005, 1,079,301 high school students across
  America took a weapon to school at least once
  every 30 days.
• In 2005, 6,488 youth ages 24 and under in the
  United States were victims of homicide.
• During 2008 in Los Angeles County, 56.4 of the
  795 homicide victims were young people 25 years
  or younger

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• 22,135

• Assault related hospitalizations
• for youth ages 10 through 24 years
• in Los Angeles County Medical Facilities
• 1997 - 2006

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Caught in the Crossfire

• Hospital-based intervention program works with
  youth, ages 12-20, who are hospitalized with
  violence-related injuries to
• reduce retaliation
• reduce re-injury
• decrease arrest rates
• promote constructive life choices

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Protocols and Procedures

• Hospital Injury Prevention Coordinator (IPC)
  notified of violently injured youth
• IPC visits, obtains consent
• IPC notifies Intervention Specialist (I.S.) who
  shows up within one hour
• I.S. begins offering life-changing services at
  the hospital bedside and post-discharge.

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Intervention Specialists

• Personal experience with violence
• From the same neighborhoods as their clients
• Intimately familiar with street culture

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Wrap-Around Services and Referrals

• Enrollment in school, tutoring
• Job training, placement
• Document preparation (VOC, DL, SSI, etc.)
• Advocacy (court, housing, education)
• Healthcare Assistance
• Referrals to counseling, anger management,
  substance abuse, etc.
• Transportation
• All in the context of a mentoring relationship

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Results Retrospective Case Control Study

• Participants are 70 LESS likely to be arrested
  within 6 months of injury than peers and
• 60 less likely to have any criminal involvement
  (placed on probation, violation of probation, or
  arrest)

Source Journal of Adolescent Health,
200434177-183 Also see Journal of the American
College of Surgeons, 2007205684-689
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Cal GRIP CinC Outcomes04/01/08 02/28/09

• 100 of clients developed protective factors
• 97 of clients under age 18 were participating in
  an educational program
• 71 of clients identifying employment as a need
  received vocational assistance or job training.
• THREE clients enrolled in college!

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Cal GRIP CinC Outcomes04/01/08 02/28/09

• Only 1.3 of clients were arrested for any
  offense following their injury, including the 23
  on probation at the time of injury.
• 48 of gang-affiliated youth have disengaged from
  gang involvement.
• No youth were subsequently killed as a result of
  violence and none were re-hospitalized with a new
  violence related injury.

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COSTS

• 200,000 Division of Juvenile Justice
• One Youth One Year
• 45,000 -
• 150,000 Cost for hospitalization
• Average Each Violence-Related Injury
• Caught in the Crossfire?
• 3,500

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For More Information Contact

• Gale Feldman, M.P.H.
• Director Youth ALIVE! in Los Angeles
• [phone]
• www. youthalive.org