Violence Prevention Taskforce

In order to sustainably reduce gun violence and address its root causes, the City Council led by the then Council President Brandon M. Scott passed the Biennial Comprehensive Violence Prevention Plan Ordinance 20.364B on May 18, 2020. The Ordinance mandated the Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD) to develop a comprehensive violence prevention plan that employs a public health approach and strategies that are trauma-informed, reduce harm, and heal individuals and communities.

On September 17, 2020, Baltimore City Commissioner of Health, Letitia Dzirasa, MD, convened the Violence Prevention Task Force (VPTF). Over the course of eight sessions, Baltimore City agencies and organizations, state agencies, and federal government technical assistance partners developed a Violence Prevention Framework. This framework helped inform the Baltimore City Comprehensive Violence Prevention Plan.

BCHD has turned over the responsibility of managing the VPTF to MONSE. MONSE has expanded the VPTF membership beyond only the legislatively-mandated agencies to include other agencies, community partners, and residents. The first meeting of the expanded VPTF occurred on July 21, 2021. VPTF goals include implementing violence reduction strategies in collaboration with partners, providing ongoing training and technical assistance to programs and services, and collecting data and reviewing results from performance measures and indicators. This task force will provide an annual report for the Mayor, City Council, and the public.

 

Mayor Scott interacts with BPD Officer

 


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