VIP Technical Assistance & Stakeholder Engagement
As part of their efforts to identify promising practices and recommendations, members of the Special Council on Gun Violence heard from hundreds of Pennsylvanians through online surveys, public hearings, and other channels to help shape the recommendations it put forth in March 2020.
Based on those recommendations as well as feedback provided by Gun Violence Reduction grantees, PCCD has taken steps to develop and launch a new statewide technical assistance initiative to support local gun violence prevention efforts.
On April 27, 2022, the School Safety and Security Committee approved a new statewide Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) Technical Assistance Project, which is coordinated through a cooperative agreement grant with WestEd, in partnership with Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC).
PA Peace Alliance & Statewide Community of Practice
In March 2023, PCCD launched a new online resource, PAPeaceAlliance.org, in partnership with WestEd's Justice and Prevention Research Center and LISC. The website and corresponding statewide community of practice is a first-of-its-kind initiative launched as part of PCCD's VIP Grants Program, and provides free, comprehensive training and technical assistance resources for groups working to address violence and promote peace in their communities. Community-based organizations are invited to check out available trainings, resources, and request technical assistance at PAPeaceAlliance.org.