We believe that all people deserve to live without violence in their lives. Yet, the impacts of structural inequities especially among youth, young adults and families can lead to disparate outcomes in access to housing and employment. Even with these concerns there is minimal funding available, especially for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC).
With this in mind, we recognize the importance of providing comprehensive intervention programs to address violent crime and commercial sexual exploitation of children (human trafficking). Human trafficking can be considered as a profitable venture with low criminal risk that can support them in the absence of other opportunities. This same lack of opportunity can often lead youth and young adults to engage in violent crimes. Read more about youth and young adult violence in our 2019 gang assessment.
By utilizing social intervention programs that are individualized, intensive, comprehensive, and measurable we weave together a fabric of services to interrupt violence and human trafficking in our community.
We are committed to investing in services that increase safety and supports systems, while decreasing violence in our community. We invest in programming that is culturally relevant, evidence-based and is centered in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
In the 2021-2022 biennial budget, $780,800 has been dedicated to programs and services supporting youth at-risk of committing violent crimes and $106,000 in services for the commercial exploitation of children. In addition, we are investing $1.6 million in youth development programming. Funding sources for these programs include the City’s General Fund, Department of Justice Grants, Criminal Justice Sales Tax, and the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders sales tax.
Current programming builds upon the partnership we began in 2012 with the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) to lead community implementation of the Comprehensive Gang Model. The Model provides an evidence-based framework for addressing and preventing youth violence.
Aligning with the Model, our five core program strategies include:
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Community mobilization, which involves residents and former gang involved youth
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Opportunity provisions (such as connection to employment)
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Social intervention
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Organizational change and development
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Suppression
Funded Youth and Young Adult Violence Reduction Programs
In February 2021, we released a request for proposal for programming and the following organizations were awarded funding:
- Big Homie Ministries
- Communities in Schools of Tacoma
- Consejo Counseling and Referral Services
- Big Brothers, Big Sisters
- Rebuilding Hope
Contact information and details about programming will be shared on this page when services begin in June 2021.
Get Involved
The Multiple Disciplinary Intervention Team (MDIT) meets monthly to share and collaborate among agencies serving youth and young adults who are gang/group-involved, or at risk of becoming gang/group-involved. The team-based approach helps ensure that all agencies working with these clients have a common goal and shared strategies for each client, as well as leverage resources and discuss other meaningful information to reduce violence and human trafficking within the community.
The group meets the second Thursday of the month at 1 PM.
Join the virtual meeting here
Meeting ID: 995 8296 7586
Passcode: 660132
The Pierce County Coalition against Trafficking (PCCAT) inspires community members to gather together and engage in ending human trafficking locally.
The groups meets the third Thursday of the month at 5:30 PM.
Join the virtual meeting here
Meeting ID: 848 9963 0237
Passcode: pccat