School Safety Transformation Pilot
A safe and welcoming school environment fosters a sense of belonging and empowers students to reach their full potential. Yet in 2021, 13% of Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) high school students reported missing school because they felt unsafe either on campus or on their way to or from school. Between 2021 and 2023, 24% of 7th graders in Los Angeles County (County) reported fear of being beaten up at school, while 15% of 9th graders reported suicidal ideation.
On July 12, 2022, the County Board of Supervisors (Board) passed a motion, “Enhancing School District Capacity for Student Safety”, directing the Department of Public Health (Public Health) and OVP to collaborate with County departments, school districts, community organizations, and other stakeholders to develop recommendations to improve how County departments support school districts to promote student safety and well-being. One of the key findings emphasized the need for a collaborative approach to ensure schools are not only physically safe but also emotionally supportive and conducive to the holistic well-being of both students and staff. Additionally, investing in community-based organizations (CBOs), offers a trauma-informed approach to improve campus safety and address broader community factors that influence school climate. With trusted relationships in the communities they serve, CBOs are uniquely positioned to engage disconnected students and families, leverage additional resources, and implement restorative practices on campus that reduce contact with the criminal justice system.
Through ARPA funds, five CBOs were each awarded $1 million to implement holistic safety strategies and student-centered programs to prevent violence and intervene in instances of violence in partnership with school districts in communities experiencing the highest rates of violence in the County. Additionally, OVP implemented a school safety learning community in partnership with the LA County of Office of Education (LACOE) to provide peer learning opportunities with a broader group of school districts. Click here to read the School Safety Transformation Pilot report.
- These partnerships helped to transform the educational ecosystem—by working at the intersection of school, family, and community, these partnerships created environments where young people were safe, supported, and empowered.
- 1,900 students directly engaged in programs, workshops, and leadership opportunities provided by grantee agencies.
- 165 school staff and community members trained by agencies in in restorative justice, student and family engagement, and trauma-informed practices.
- 110 families engaged with wraparound support.
- 5,000 safe passage walks provided by community ambassadors—creating consistent, secure routes to and from school.
Peer2Peer Academy
The LA County Peer 2 Peer (P2P) Academy was a pilot to develop recommendations for a training academy to support LA County OVP’s violence prevention and intervention initiatives. The Academy was designed to build infrastructure for community-based organizations to sharpen skillsets for their peer workforce, and to support career pathways for this industry. The Collective for Community Based Public Safety was contracted to lead the P2P Academy and built capacity across a multi-disciplinary cohort of peer specialists to promote peace and healing.
The P2P Academy included multiple modules, such as industry standards and best practices for community violence intervention certification and a holistic mix of training topics to address the evolving needs of the field. These included gender-based violence, positive youth development, trauma informed and healing centered practice, communication, de-escalation and conflict mediation skills, field safety, group facilitation, decision-making, and system navigation. Administrative topics were integrated in the curriculum such as supervision skills, data collection and documentation, and other topics. There were 25 graduates on Friday, November 22, 2024, from the first cohort of students. Supportive family, friends, and colleagues attended the graduation.
Hardship Fund
A Hardship Fund was created to allow TPP grantees to financially address urgent client needs. A total of 757 families received financial assistance from the Hardship Fund.
STORY #1 | In the spring of 2024, a distressed parent reached out seeking urgent support due to a surge in violent crime in their neighborhood, prompting the family to begin searching for a new home. That search became even more urgent when the family’s home was robbed at gunpoint. The intruders broke the door down and forced the family to lie face down on the floor while they robbed them of their possessions, including their electronics and cars. The mother hesitated to call the police because she was afraid the intruders might still be nearby or might even return to their home. However, the family found the courage to call the police and report the crime. Following the break in, the family replaced their door and vehicle. The car was a total loss due to having most of its components, seats and headlights taken off. The emotional toll of this traumatic experience weighed heavily on the family. While the family turned to their local church and counseling for support, they continued to live in fear and uncertainty, worried that such violence could happen again. Fortunately, they were able to find a new home and with ARPA’s support, they received assistance with their first month’s rent, helping them take an important step toward rebuilding their lives.
STORY #2 | A young mother and survivor of human trafficking escaped her trafficker with her children. To ensure the safety of herself and her children, the mother needed to move into a new apartment. However, she owed back rent to the landlord. With TPP’s support, she was able to obtain the funds needed to find safe and secure housing for her children.
STORY #3 | After witnessing his father getting shot and killed, a young person reached out to TPP for support. His father had been the breadwinner of the home and his sudden death left the family struggling to make ends meet. The family fell behind on rent and faced the threat of housing instability. With TPP’s assistance, they found the support needed to begin rebuilding their lives following an unimaginable loss.
STORY #4 | A young man who lived in a gang neighborhood was approached by a gang member who asked his affiliation to other gangs in the community. When he denied gang activity involvement he was shot. He was scheduled for an interview when the incident happened. Due to the lack of employment or financial resources he couldn’t purchase necessities for the interview. The Hardship fund assisted the young man with resources for his interview and medical needs from being shot.
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Trauma Prevention Partnerships (TPP), provided funding to community-based organizations to promote peace and healing in communities disproportionately impacted by violence across LA County. This initiative was implemented between January 2023 and May 2025.
