Community Violence Intervention Center Inc

Healing services specialized support heals the impact of trauma so individuals can thrive. 1) youth therapy: 125 children impacted by violence received therapy to address trauma. 78 youth received 1,016 individual therapy sessions and 52 youth participated in 475 group sessions at area schools and cvic. 67 parents received education about parenting needs of children living in violent homes and the effects of violence/trauma on children. With a fully staffed youth therapy team, there has been a significant increase in the number of therapy services provided to youth this year, compared with 2023. We added a rural youth therapist in april which led to an increase in referrals from rural schools, with 10 rural youth currently on the waiting list. Our rural youth therapist has a full caseload and is providing services to youth at five schools. The number of youth provided individual/family therapy has increased 86% and the number of sessions for individual/family clients increased 216%. Because of the group therapist position partially funded by grand forks public schools, the number of youth participating in groups has increased by 767%, and the number of sessions by 1,339%, this year. As adult therapy continues to be fully staffed, services are similar to what was provided in 2023. We have waiting lists for both adult and youth therapy services.2) adult therapy: 128 adults received therapy services, including 120 adults who received 1,369 sessions of individual therapy, 13 in restorative therapy, and 17 adults who participated in 143 support group sessions. 100% of adult clients surveyed showed improvement in emotional condition. Maya (name and some details changed) sought out therapy to help process and work through things that she dealt with not only as a child, but also is continuing to deal with as a young college student. Growing up, she felt afraid to talk about feelings in her home, and endured emotional abuse from her parent, which has continued into her adulthood. This emotional abuse often caused her to have negative thoughts about herself such as, "i am unworthy, and made her feel an incredible sense of self-doubt and disappointment. Through emdr, maya has been able to process these feelings, challenge those thoughts, and come to the point of believing that she is worthy, knowledgeable, and strong. She is continuing to set boundaries with her parent and stand up for herself by communicating to her parent that she does not deserve to be treated poorly.

Education/prevention services because violence is predictable, it is also preventable. 1. Youth education: cvic reached 8,005 youth through 730 presentations and 72% of youth surveyed planned to use what they learned in their daily lives. While presenting shrek's internet safety quest to rural 4th graders, many shared stories of online harm that had already happened to them. Students talked about how they have been stalked, hacked, and catfished. During the presentation, cvic staff walked through different scenarios and ways to stay safe. Students were also able to share about steps they had already taken to stay safe which engaged their peers and made for good conversation and reflections. We know that early prevention and education for students can make a big difference in future outcomes. One 5th grade student shared, "i liked friendships that work because it made me feel safe." 2) adult presentations: cvic reached 13,035 adults through 108 presentations; 93% indicated that they planned to use what they learned. Cvic trained 1,053 professionals through 41 presentations; 95% indicated they plan to use the information learned from training.3) green dot: on dec. 14, 2024, cvic held the green dot at the ralph event which was a collaboration between the green dot greater grand forks program, gate city bank, and the ralph engelstad arena to share bystander intervention strategies with attendees of the und hockey game. Green dot is a community program designed to reduce power-based violence in grand forks. The highlight of the event was a 30-second video featuring und hockey player bennett zmolek sharing information about our green dot program on the center-hung video board. We also handed out green dot information cards, stickers, and pens to anyone that stopped by our table. It's strong community partnerships like these that allow us to spread the word about cvic's programs as we work to end violence in grand forks.