Evaluation of Community Violence Intervention (CVI) Programs in Two Ohio Counties

Nationally, violent crime significantly increased in urban areas across the United States in the years following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 (Rosenfeld & Lopez, 2022). This increase was followed by an equally pronounced decline in violent crime beginning in 2024 in many major cities and has continued to plummet to record-setting lows in homicides and violent crime (Lopez & Boxerman, 2026). The specific reasons for these declines are the subject of much political and scholarly debate, particularly related to the effectiveness of specific violence reduction strategies, such as community violence intervention (CVI) (CCJ, 2026; Greene, 2026; McDonald & Friedrich, 2026). CVI refers to a range of community-led strategies designed to reduce violence by addressing the individual, social, and environmental factors that contribute to it (McManus et al., 2020). CVI strategies vary considerably across jurisdictions, but many share several common features, including focusing resources on the small number of individuals and locations at greatest risk, employing trusted community members or “credible messengers,” using data and community knowledge to identify and prioritize violence problems, and coordinating efforts across community organizations, public agencies, schools, health providers, and other local stakeholders (Abt & Winship, 2016; McManus et al., 2020).
 

In response to post-pandemic increases in violence in their cities, two Ohio CVI organizations were awarded American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds in 2023 from the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS) to support community-based violence reduction initiatives: Community for New Direction (CND) in Columbus and the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio (ULGSO) in Cincinnati. This report serves as a mixed-methods process and impact evaluation of these two community-based crime prevention programs. While their social, geographic, and operational settings are distinct, both approaches are designed to provide access to services for individuals in need, particularly youth in high-risk contexts, and provide a more holistic public safety approach by reducing formal, police-based contacts and providing alternative, pro-social and educational opportunities for young people.

The CND is a Columbus, Ohio-based nonprofit organization dedicated to violence prevention, youth development, and the treatment of substance use and mental health conditions. Since its founding in 1989, the CND has responded to the needs of inner-city, economically distressed neighborhoods, focusing on high-risk youth and young adults affected by poverty, substance use, and violence. The CND’s violence prevention and intervention model is rooted in evidence- based practices and a prevention-first philosophy. Program staff spend time in gang-controlled areas, build relationships and conduct outreach with youth involved in violence or at risk of involvement in the juvenile justice system, and focus on the development of pro-social, academic, and vocational skills. The CND’s key program components include outreach and engagement, case management, a violence intervention team, wraparound services, and community partnerships.

The ULGSO traces its origins to 1948 and continues to operate as a grassroots organization focused on empowering communities, seeking justice, and advancing opportunities. The ULGSO leveraged ARPA funding to expand its Community Partnering Center (CPC) and youth programs to enhance evidence-based violence reduction strategies and intensify efforts to address the root causes of violence, particularly through the work of Community Outreach Advocates and Community Engagement Specialists. The CPC builds community capacity to address crime, disorder, and quality of life issues by working collaboratively with residents, stakeholders, and the Cincinnati Police Department. Its approach emphasizes prevention, identifying and addressing conditions that lead to violence, garnering community support to create safer neighborhoods, and supporting individuals at increased risk of becoming victims or perpetrators of violence with educational, social, and developmental support.