The Nebraska Collaborative for Violence Intervention and Prevention (NeCVIP) is collaboration between the UNO School of Criminology and Criminal Justice and UNMC College of Medicine that combines a criminological and medical perspective to reduce gun violence and support victims of violent injury. Priorities areas include:
1. Research and Evaluation: Conduct community-driven and systems-based research on the causes, consequences and solutions to violence, particularly resulting in firearm injury. Researchers also evaluate existing community interventions to improve policy and effective practices.
2. Data Integration: An integrated data system will be created to share data between public health, health care, criminology and community-based organizations. Data integration provide researchers and community with real-time data and metrics.
3. Programming: Translate research to develop and coordinate a multi-level systems-based intervention for violence prevention and intervention in Nebraska.
4. Education and Training: Increase the capacity of community organizations, the general public and prevention specialists across Nebraska through education, training and outreach.
5. Community Engagement: Success of the NeCVIP requires great partnerships and engagement of the entire public health system in Nebraska.
6. Policy and Advocacy: Analyze existing and pending policies relevant to the goals of NeCVIP at the federal, state and local level, and provide advocacy for a public health approach to violence prevention.
Capitalizing on the existing efforts and expertise of local, state and national agencies and UNO/UNMC’s ongoing collaborative relationships with these agencies, the NeCVIP serves as an objective mechanism for connecting state and local policy makers, community-based organizations and prevention advocates with timely data and evidence-based solutions to violence.
Contact UNO SCCJ Director and NeCVIP co-Director, Gaylene Armstrong, Ph.D. for more information or to apply for a graduate assistantship to work with the Collaboration.