Welcome to theCity of AuroraColorado

Current youth violence intervention and prevention partners

As part of Aurora’s ongoing efforts to address youth violence, the city has awarded $260,000 to organizations that support youth violence reduction efforts through prevention and intervention services within the city. Organizations that provide intervention services received a total of nearly $195,000, while organizations that offer prevention programming received a total of $65,000.

Organizations funded for intervention services include:

• The Juvenile Assessment Center - 18th Judicial District
• University of Colorado Hospital At-Risk Intervention and Mentoring (AIM) Program
• Mosaic Unlimited Inc.
• Aurora Community Connection

Organizations funded for prevention services include:

• A1 Boxing
• Aurora Housing Authority
• Aurora Sister Cities
• Denver Area Youth for Christ
• Driven by Our Ambitions (DBOA)
• Rocky Mountain Welcome Center
• Salvation Army
• Urban Nature Impact

Funding for this effort comes from marijuana tax revenue. Organizations for prevention services have until the end of 2022 to use the funding provided, while organizations for intervention services have until June 2023.

Email [email protected] with questions. 

Funding Philosophy

The Youth Violence Prevention Program funds organizations to increase the frequency of youth engagement events and service delivery in communities where youth violence is more likely to occur. Community connection is a protective factor that can help prevent youth violence and support youth, families and the greater community. These efforts are the most effective when they are community-led, with identified community leaders and organizations taking the lead on coordinated activities. 

• Community-Informed: Our funding decision-making is informed by community perceptions to support the programming needs of the community.

• Evidence-based Practice: We believe in well-researched interventions, programs and services that incorporate ethics, client preferences, and culture to guide and inform the delivery of services. 

• Data-Driven: Youth Violence Prevention Program is committed to harnessing the power of data to assess opportunities, measure progress, evaluate the impact and improve performance. 

• Partnerships: The challenges we face in Aurora and around the country are increasingly complex, and neither the private nor the public sector can solve them alone. That’s why the Youth Violence Prevention Program will focus on building partnerships across sectors to share ideas and resources toward a common purpose to amplify our impact. 

• Funding Focus: The Youth Violence Prevention Program funding approach focuses on the following key areas for creating lasting change.

• Promote family environments that support healthy youth development
• Create frequent and positive shared activities with parents and other caretakers
• Opportunities to increase connectedness to family or other caring adults
• Increase involvement in pro-social activities
• Increase awareness of available resources/services in the city of Aurora.
• Access to quality education
• Strengthening youth skills
• Create protective community environments
• Intervene to lessen harms and prevent future risks
• Promote diversity, equity and inclusion

If you would like to be notified of upcoming funding opportunities, please email your contact information to [email protected].

Resources 

Denver Resources

• Denver Youth Violence Prevention Program
• Gang Reduction Initiative of Denver - City and County of Denver (denvergov.org)
• Public Safety Youth Programs - City and County of Denver (denvergov.org)

National Models

• A Comprehensive Technical Package for the Prevention of Youth Violence and Associated Risk Behaviors (cdc.gov)
• Cure Violence Global — Stopping the Spread of Violence (cvg.org)
• OJJDP Comprehensive Gang Model | National Gang Center (ojp.gov)
• Risk and Protective Factors |Violence Prevention |Injury Center |CDC
• Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) (cdc.gov)

Other Resources

• Vocabulary Guide