This news item expired on Monday, February 27, 2023 so the information below could be outdated or incorrect.
Buncombe County Justice Services is now accepting proposals from a provider (or providers) to implement a community-based public health response to violence.
In recent years, our community has experienced violent crime and homicide with inequitable impacts on our Black or African American communities. In 2020, the County issued a declaration of Racism as a Public Health & Safety Crisis. “Community leaders from local community groups, public health officials, and local law enforcement are concerned gun violence and homicides will continue to rise given intersectional stressors and systemic pressures experienced by our underserved communities,” notes Justice Services Director Tiffany Iheanacho. “We have seen there is strong local momentum and community support for collaborative violence prevention and intervention programs.”
Buncombe County has been awarded approximately $2.5 million of Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars to invest in this work over three years, and is seeking a collaborative partner(s) interested in working with the community to develop a long-term, public health approach to implement components of a community-based public-health response to violence including:
- Community Healing Initiative
- Coalition Building and Evaluation
- Mental Health Support
Technical assistance on the project will be provided by CHASM-Community Healing through Activism and Strategic Mobilization. The program objectives are to promote violence as a public health priority and effectively demonstrate the value that community-based, community-led public health thinking and methodology offers in partnership with public safety, social services, schools, and other stakeholders to prevent multiple forms of violence.
An information session will take place from noon-2 p.m. on Jan. 31 in the Stephens-Lee Recreation Center Multipurpose Room (30 George Washington Carver Ave., Asheville, NC 28801). Any organization interested in applying is strongly encouraged to attend. Download the invite below.
If you missed this session watch the video here.
Find the full Request for Proposals here. For questions, contact Hannah Legerton, Youth Justice Division Manager, at (828) 250-4087 or Hannah.Legerton@buncombecounty.org.