Newark Community Street Team Inc
Newark Community Street Team Inc
Newark Community Street Team Inc
Programs
Program 1 [2020]
The Newark Community Street Team (NCST) is Newark's community-based program to reduce violence in our city. The strategies we use are proven to reduce violence. We hire, train, and deploy Outreach Workers and High-Risk Interventionists into Newark's South Ward and West Ward. Services that are to provide to residents include casework to those at most significant risk of becoming a victim or a perpetrator of violence, engaging in high-risk intervention by negotiating on-going conflicts that may result in violence and preventing retaliation, offering Safe Passage at specific schools, providing support to crime survivors who are often overlooked by traditional victim services agencies and offer free mental health services from our Trauma Recovery Center. In 2020 we operated programs to meet the public safety crisis and support residents during the Covid - 19 pandemic. We were deemed first responders and essential workers by the City of Newark Municipality.NCST sees violence as a public health issue. Community members are the center of our strategies to reduce violent crime and murder in the City of Newark. We use a relationship-based approach to intervene, prevent, and resolve disputes in the community to a peaceful outcome. We coordinate our efforts with community partners, including city agencies, service providers, policy organizations, and more, to improve the quality of life for citizens of the City of Newark. Skilled and trained Outreach Workers are the key to the success of this work. Outreach Workers work on their own and as a team to prevent violence in the community so that community members can feel more comfortable and secure. We do this by helping residents with Hardship Assistance, Life Management Skills, Social Service Assistance NCST, Wellness Support, Crime Survivor Support Services Employment/Education Referrals. NCST employs non-traditional community leaders, including those who have been incarcerated and those who have been in the drug trade. They are trained as mentors and interventionists who support at-risk youth and young adults in our community who are 14 - 30 years old. NCST Outreach Workers have reshaped their own lives and are committed to helping others change their lives. NCST believes that relying on crime rate data as the only sign of public safety is not good enough. Safety is not just the absence of violence. Safety is also created by systems that support comfort and security for the most vulnerable amongst us. NCST sees a public safety system that puts victims at the center of our public safety strategy rather than law enforcement at the center. We also invest in healing services for community members and our partners. High-Risk Intervention ("HRI"):HRI's primary responsibility is to respond to community violence incidents to restore peace, prevent retaliation, connect victims to services, and avoid unnecessary arrest and incarceration. HRI relates those involved in violence to supportive counseling, crisis intervention assessment, mediation, referrals, and resource information. Hospital Violence Intervention Program ("HVIP"):Outreach Workers are embedded in the University Hospital Trauma Center to connect victims and their families to supportive services. Outreach Workers also link to the High-Risk Intervention team and victim services to prevent repeat or retaliation violence.Safe Passage: We provide Safe Passage to schools for hot spots of violence surrounding select (contracted) schools. Outreach Workers are sent in teams to crucial school exit and entry points, bus stops, stores, and intersections where youth congregate in and around the school. Safe Passage allows Outreach Workers to develop relationships with the child and their parents, intervene in and mediate potential conflicts, and ensure that students arrive at and from school safely and on time.Trauma Recovery Center ("TRC"):As crime survivors navigate the process of healing from trauma, The TRC helps to connect self-identified victims of crime to wellness specialists with resources to aid in their Healing Journey. The TRC is staffed with licensed clinicians who provide 16 weeks of free services, including therapy sessions, connections to safer housing, medical care and treatment services, and accessing additional vital services.Public Safety Round Table (PSRT):The Public Safety Round Table is a community forum created to include the voices of community members in the public safety process in a facilitated community discussion. The PSRT seeks to hold elected officials, government agencies, service providers, faith-based organizations, and others accountable for providing the services for the community that they are expected to provide. Law enforcement gives reports on where violence and crime are happening in the neighborhood and includes residents in discussing creating solutions.NCST receives its funding from many sources, including the Prudential Foundation, Victoria Foundation, PSE&G, the South Ward Children's Alliance Fund, The State of New Jersey, Health Care Foundation for New Jersey, L&M Developers, Open Society Foundation, AT&T, BJA, United Way, Life Comes from it, and the Alliance for Safety and Justice.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$1.2MNewark Community Street Team
The Newark Community Street Team (NCST) was founded as Newark's community-based violence reduction strategy. NCST draws upon an evidence-based, trauma informed approach to violence reduction through prevention and intervention in Newark communities. NCST hires, trains and deploys Outreach Workers and High Risk Interventionists in the South and West Wards of Newark and operates Newark's Trauma Recovery Center, an Eviction Prevention Team, a school-based Safe Passage Program and a Hospital Based Violence Intervention Program as well as a Victim Services Department. NCST recently launched an Overdose Response Team.High Risk InterventionThe High Risk Intervention (HRI) team's primary responsibility is to respond to community based violence incidents based on referral from the community or law enforcement. HRI connects those engaged in violence to supportive counseling, crisis intervention assessment and mediation, referrals and resource information in order to restore peace and avoid arrest and incarceration. NCST employs six (6) High Risk Interventionists and has responded to over 550 Dispatches YTD. The High Risk Intervention team has grown tremendously, increasing our capacity from 6 trained public safety professionals to now 24 Public safety professionals.The High-risk Interventionist involves mediating conflicts and resolving disputes peacefully. The team continues to play a crucial role in mitigating tensions and preventing escalation in the city of Newark. The High Risk Interventionist has been actively engaged in high-risk interventionist initiatives aimed at addressing and mitigating potential challenges within the community. Focusing on targeted outreach and support, NCST HRI now supports the entire city of Newark. Hospital Based Violence Intervention Program (HVIP)NCST's Hospital Violence Intervention Program (HVIP) is a hospital based approach to intervene, prevent and set the victim of violence on a different path from retaliation and/or revictimization. NCST has three (5) Community Health Workers (CHW) , one (1), one (1) Social Worker High Risk Interventionist (HRI) and one (1) Project Manager (PM) that engages individuals that have been hospitalized, offering wraparound services (Trauma recovery, relocation, case management and victim assistance). This year, there have been 137 consents into Newark's HVIP. NCST recently launched the Southward Hospital Violence Intervention Program, a collaborative effort with Beth Israel Hospital. This initiative marks a significant expansion of our commitment to community well-being and violence reduction.Our ongoing partnership with University Hospital still exists. We have forged a learning partnership with Beth Israel Hospital to implement the Southward Hospital Violence Intervention Program. This collaborative effort allows us to extend our services beyond the hospital walls and directly into the community. This year we spent a lot of dedicated time informing BI leadership team about the Hospital Alliance for Violence Intervention and community lead strategies to address violence. This was intentional as we needed to establish a trusted working relationship with BI. Our program operates exclusively outside the hospital, demonstrating our dedication to reaching individuals within their neighborhoods. By doing so, we aim to address the root causes of violence and healthcare disparities at the community level.Safe PassageNCST provides Safe Passage at schools in areas with hot spots of violence. Outreach Workers are deployed in teams at key exit and entry points of the school, bus stops, stores and intersections where youth congregate in and around the school. NCST's Safe Passage currently serves 20 schools in Newark. The Safe Passage Team also leads weekly community walks in different neighborhoods that may have struggles with violence, and the team has led 160 Community Walks. Safe passage workers also have a caseload of youth and young adults supporting them to reach short term safety goals that allows students to go to school safely and return home safely without incidents amongst their school and community peers. Safe passage facilitates conflict resolution and mediation efforts to address disputes within the community, aiming to prevent escalation and contribute to a peaceful neighborhood environment.Victim ServicesThrough NCST's Victim Services Department, skilled Outreach Workers work individually and as a team to prevent community-based violence. We help residents with Hardship Assistance, Life Management Skills, Social Service Assistance, Wellness Support, Legal Support, Crime Survivor Support Services, Employment/Education Referrals and more. NCST employs four (4) Case Managers who supported 256 mentees from August 2021-2022 and assisted victims in the amount of $65,739.45 through 50 applications to the Victims of Crime Compensation Office.Trauma Recovery CenterNCST's TRC expands delivery of clinical services to underserved traumatized populations. We have created a safe space in our community for crime survivors to receive mental health treatment, advocacy, and victim services. The TRC presently has 7 clinicians, 2 outreach workers, and 1 intern, totaling 11 staff members. Given our history as a strong community-based organization, NCST is uniquely positioned to navigate the nuances of service delivery to a population that has been or currently overlooked and underserved by traditional institutional agencies. NCST staff is adept at helping victims through these processes. There have been 202 TRC clients served by YTD since its inception two years ago.Overdose Response TeamNCST's overdose response team improves opioid use disorder care and reduces overdose mortality in Newark. Each engagement ORT staff has with patients and community members encourages harm reduction practices, often including distribution of harm reduction materials. So in addition to literally saving lives during an overdose response, the education and access to harm reduction supplies and services allows for capacity building with the community. NCST ORT hosts a monthly stakeholder meeting in order to elevate systemic barriers for people living with OUD and, ideally, collectively resolve them. YTD NCST has coordinated 85 dispatch calls with University Hospital , reversed 44 overdoses and distributed 873 Harm reduction kits.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJan 1, 2022 – Dec 31, 2022Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$4.2MProgram 1 [2023]
Newark Community Street Team (NCST) - 2023 AccomplishmentsNewark Community Street Team (NCST) remains a cornerstone of Newark's community-based violence reduction strategy, utilizing evidence-based, trauma-informed methods. In 2023, NCST supported both victims and perpetrators of violence, engaging in high-risk intervention, mediation, and conflict resolution efforts to proactively deter violence and promote peace. NCST ensured safe and timely school commutes for students, provided a secure environment for survivors of violent crime to access mental health services, and responded effectively to overdose incidents while delivering harm reduction services to those in need. Through these efforts, NCST has built a critical mass of leaders, educated in self-efficacy and rooted in self-understanding, committed to fostering safety and resilience within their communities.High Risk InterventionThe High Risk Intervention (HRI) team responded to 2,200 dispatches in 2023, helping de-escalate violence across Newark. Expanded to 24 Public Safety Professionals, the HRI team supports citywide mediation and conflict resolution efforts, preventing violence and arrests by offering counseling, crisis intervention, and resource referrals. Their consistent presence has been pivotal in restoring peace and building safer communities.Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program (HVIP)NCST's HVIP remains essential in breaking cycles of violence, retaliation, and re-victimization. In 2023, we developed care plans for 140 clients across University Hospital and Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. Our team led 40+ community walks and 25 outreach events in the South Ward, promoting hospital-based trauma recovery resources and strengthening our role as trusted intervention specialists in Newark's healthcare settings. Community Health Workers and Victim Advocates received training, including Stop the Bleeding and Hospital Violence Prevention, enhancing their expertise. We facilitated long-term affordable housing relocations for participant survivors, the first to move into a brand new facility in the hospital's service campus.Safe Passage ProgramNCST's Safe Passage Program continues to ensure that Newark students can travel safely to and from school. Stationed at critical transit points across 20 schools, Safe Passage sentinels intervened in approximately 25 incidents monthly, supporting conflict resolution among students and fostering safe commutes. This year, the team also led 160 community walks, connecting directly with residents and responding to local needs in violence-affected neighborhoods.Victim Services Department (VSD)In 2023, the Victim Services Department assisted both victims and at-risk community members by providing hardship relief, social services, crime survivor support, and mentorship. Maintaining an average caseload of 25 clients monthly, four case managers supported 256 mentees and assisted with 50 Victims of Crime Compensation claims, totaling $65,739.45.Trauma Recovery Center (TRC)The Trauma Recovery Center provided a safe space for mental health support, serving 207 individuals in 2023, with 203 clients completing therapeutic services. The TRC addressed housing challenges for 14 families and coordinated 785 hours of direct clinical support. With 248 referrals from NCST departments and community partners, the TRC continues to connect survivors with comprehensive, trauma-informed care.Overdose Response Team (ORT)NCST's Overdose Response Team improved opioid use disorder care in Newark, handling a monthly caseload of 50 clients and reversing 303 overdoses independently, in addition to 261 reversals in partnership with University Hospital. By distributing 873 harm reduction kits and hosting regular stakeholder meetings, the ORT promotes harm reduction and supports Newark residents affected by substance use.Abridged NCST Programs & Services - 2023 Highlights:Safe Passage to Schools Program: Provided safe routes for students from 13 schools, with 20 sentinels handling an average of 7 interventions weekly.Stop School Violence (SSV): Served an average of 5 mentees monthly, preventing school-based violence through targeted interventions at partner alternative high school Lead Charter School.L+M Projects Onsite Intervention: This program at Georgia King Village and Zion Towers engaged 8 mentees monthly with wraparound support, conflict mediation, and digital media programming.Public Safety Roundtable: Engaged community stakeholders to discuss safety concerns and advocate for resources, enhancing local advocacy and collaboration.Harm Reduction Center (HRC): Supported over 300 residents monthly, providing addiction recovery resources and harm reduction supplies.Workforce Education Department (WED): Empowered leaders through Community Leadership Sentinel Academy, graduating nearly 200 residents, including youth-focused cohorts fostering self-efficacy and community resilience. Victim Services Empowered over 200 residents through healing modalities through National Day of Healing and Heal the Block initiatives. Credentialed over 10 employees as Advocates through the National Advocate Credentialing Program, and empowered over 100 domestic violence survivors at local YMCA, and 75 at L&M through Paint and Heal Arts Initiative.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJan 1, 2023 – Dec 31, 2023Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$5.9M
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