What is SAVE?
Standing Against Violence Every Day (SAVE) is a community violence reduction program that helps prevent gun violence and supports people who may be at higher risk of becoming involved in violence.
Since September 2023, the city of Aurora has been using this approach to connect individuals and families with support, resources, and opportunities. The goal is simple: keep people safe, help prevent violence, and create pathways to a healthier future.
SAVE focuses on a small number of people who research shows are most likely to be involved in gun violence. These individuals receive a clear message that violence must stop, while also being offered support such as mentoring, employment assistance, behavioral health services, and other resources that can help them make positive changes.
SAVE is a partnership between the Aurora Police Department (APD), the Youth Violence Prevention Program, community organizations and city leadership.
Support and resources
A major part of SAVE is helping people access services and support. When someone is identified as being at higher risk, outreach workers and community partners offer voluntary services that may include:
- Case management and assessments to identify needs and goals
- Mentoring and peer support from trusted individuals with lived experience
- Employment assistance and job training
- Substance use treatment and behavioral health services
- Conflict mediation and violence interruption services
- Family support, resource navigation and help meeting basic needs
Participation in the program is completely voluntary. People do not have to participate in services to avoid law enforcement contact and they are not required to provide information about anyone else.
Community partners
SAVE works with several community organizations that provide direct services and support:
- JusticeWorks Youth Care provides assessments and case management planning for paticipants and their families.
- Hazelbrook Community Center provides substance use treatment, mentoring, fitness activities and other supportive services.
- Struggle of Love Foundation provides violence intervention, a 24 hour SAVE hotline, mentoring and resource navigation.
- The Road Called STRATE provides mentoring, life skills training, conflict resolution support, mental health screenings and community support.
How SAVE works
SAVE reaches people through two primary approaches:
Custom Notifications
Custom notifications are in person conversations with an outreach worker, community partner and law enforcement representative.
Together, they share a consistent message: The community cares about your safety, wants to support you and is offering resources to help you avoid violence.
These conversations also provide honest information about the risks and consequences associated with continued violence so individuals can make informed decisions.
Call-ins
Call-ins are larger group meetings where participants hear from community leaders, service providers and law enforcement representatives. The goal is to connect people with support, resources, and opportunities in a respectful setting.
Both approaches are followed by ongoing outreach and support. The first conversation is only the beginning of the relationship.
Why this approach?
SAVE is based on the Group Violence Intervention (GVI) model, a strategy that has been used successfully in cities across the country to reduce violence and improve community safety.
The approach focuses on combining accountability with meaningful support. Rather than relying on enforcement alone, SAVE works to connect people with the services and opportunities they need to make positive changes in their lives.
Aurora is the first city in Colorado to implement this model in partnership with the National Network for Safe Communities.
Progress
Since the program launched in September 2023:
- Individuals selected for custom notifications: 366
- Custom notifications attempted: 355
- Individuals successfully contacted: 314
- Contact rate: 85%