The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) finalized agreements with six grantees to subcontract with 33 community organizations, bringing a public health approach to gun violence prevention across Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, Stamford, Waterbury, and New London.
The agreements, managed through DPH's Office of Firearm Injury Prevention, rely on collaboration with youth, law enforcement, schools, and clergy to identify root causes, build trust with residents, and intervene before violence occurs. The six grantees are the cities of Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, Stamford, and Waterbury, along with Ledge Light Health District, which will focus on New London.
Department of Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani, M.D., said, "Gun violence is a public health crisis, and addressing it requires the same coordinated, community-driven approach we use for any public health threat. These agreements put resources directly into the hands of the communities and organizations that know their neighborhoods best. By connecting prevention and intervention efforts with mentoring, street outreach, hospital-based care, and evaluation, we can build a stronger, more sustained response to gun violence across Connecticut."
Grantees will implement evidence-based strategies including mentoring programs, after-school programs, hospital-based violence intervention programs connecting patients treated for violent injuries with case management, and street outreach programs. DPH will also increase evaluation and data collection efforts, partnering with the Yale School of Public Health to assess program effectiveness.
In Hartford, subcontracted organizations include COMPASS Youth Collaborative, which will provide case management and mental health services to gunshot victims, and Harriott Home Health Services, which will provide physical and occupational therapy and social work services to victims of violence. In Waterbury, the Local Police Athletic League will provide youth programming and emergency services for victims of violence.
For more health and community resources, Connecticut residents can dial 2-1-1, and details on DPH's Office of Firearm Injury Prevention are available at portal.ct.gov/dph.
