Our programs

Prevention

I’LL GIVE IT A TRY (I.G.I.A.T) works with youth and young adults ages 12 to 24 by addressing the risk and protective factors to help communities take advantage of the best available evidence to prevent youth violence. Such services include:

Cognitive-Behavioral Group sessions called ” The Pipeline”

These sessions are designed to equip youth and young adults with a deep understanding of the root causes behind negative behaviors covering areas such as:

  • Lack of Education
  • Fatherlessness
  • Broken Homes
  • Negative Peers
  • Emotional Intelligence
  • Unemployment
  • Environments

Peer group session called “L7”

Our curriculum is a well-rounded series of lessons tailored to a youth’s peer group. Covering topics such as peer pressure, fostering positive friendships, navigating social media influences, boosting self-worth, leveraging community resources, setting boundaries, and understanding the risks of gang recruitment.

Work Force Development

We’re dedicated to shaping employable youth and young adults. Our support includes training opportunities, refining job readiness skills, conducting interview preparation, and fostering career development. This holistic approach not only increases productivity but also reduces workforce turnover. Plus, we offer convenient transportation support.

Mentorship

In our mentorship program, each youth is placed with a Violence Prevention Specialist (V.P.S.) to provide personalized guidance, positive communication, and support their journey of personal growth and development.

Intervention

Our Intervention program actively addresses and mediates conflicts among youth and young adults. It focuses on strengthening a young person’s ties to the community, fostering meaningful relationships with supportive adults, and delivering immediate assistance to those at higher risk of involvement in the juvenile and /or adult prison system. Services include:

Community Support: Our collaboration with Cleveland schools focuses on ensuring safe routes for youth. I.G.I.A.T. works alongside local churches and community leaders, creating secure spaces that empower youth to actively participate and thrive within the community. Additionally, we proudly offer C.H.E.S.S. (Creating Highly Educated Successful students), furthering our commitment to educational excellence and empowering the next generation.

Courts: IG.I.A.T. works with youth and young adults to help the risk of re-offending by instilling a cognitive-behavioral way of thinking and assisting them in fulfilling their supervision requirements.

Hospitals: As part of our hospital-based violence prevention initiative, we deploy Violence Prevention Specialists (VPS) to level 1 trauma centers like Metro Health and University Hospitals where victims of violent acts are admitted. Working collaboratively with medical staff, we provide safety support services and trauma informed care to injured victims. Our commitment extends to offering ongoing support to both victims and their families, with the aim of preventing any further retaliatory actions

Conflict Mediation

Conflict Mediation is a voluntary option for dispute resolution using a neutral third party to resolve matters that could lead to retaliation and/or gun violence.

Father, Child and Family(F.C.F).

Our F.C.F program emphasizes the vital role that fathers play in the home. It highlights how the absence of the fathers can obstruct development from early infancy through childhood and into adulthood.

6-week Diversion program

A 6-week diversion program aimed at youth and young adults can focus on several key components to effectively guide participants toward healthier lifestyles and reduce the likelihood of reoffending

Violence Intervention Specialist

Violence Intervention Specialist work with youth and young adults to help them find alternatives to violence. They work with parents and teachers to come up with individualized plans to best fit the youth and/or young adults needs.

“Becoming a V.I.P. has shown me how to be a better father as well as a mentor to my own children.” “ Time is all they needed”
–Leonard McMullen, Violence Intervention Specialist.