Project Summary:
In response to rising rates of violence, the Mecklenburg County Department of Public Health’s Office of Violence Prevention designed “The Way Forward” community violence strategic plan in 2023. The strategic plan coordinates countywide violence prevention efforts under five guiding principles: collaboration, inclusion, accountability, capacity building, and access & equity. The Way Forward operates with a goal of achieving 10% reductions (from 2022 baselines) in homicide and gun-related assaults by 2028. The Way Forward strategy involves several complementary strategies, including a violence prevention educational media campaign, violence prevention training for community organizations, and policy development workshops with high school students.
Project Description:
This project involves both a process and outcome evaluation of The Way Forward program. The research team developed logic models and data collection protocols to help develop an evaluation plan for the community training and workshop efforts. The research team conducted a community survey to evaluate the media campaign’s reach and impact on community perceptions. A spatial analysis using a matched quasi-experimental design tested the effect of advertisement placement on community engagement and violent crime occurrence. Jointly, these research efforts highlight important policy implications that should be considered when designing and deploying community-based violence prevention programs.
Funder:
This project is funded by the County of Mecklenburg Department of Public Health.
