YouthBuild Peacekeepers

Shelley Smith, Case Manager

7401 Warwick Blvd, Newport News, VA 23607

A gun violence intervention, prevention & support program for youth and young adults

About

Through direct collaboration with the City of Newport News Office of the Sheriff, the Department of Juvenile Justice Newport News Court Service Unit and other community partners, the YouthBuild Peacekeepers (YP) provides social and behavioral health programming that focus on gun violence prevention and intervention activities for low-income youth ages 13 – 18 coming out of the juvenile detention system.

The YouthBuild Peacekeepers is a sub-program within our Newport News YouthBuild (NNYB) workforce development program. NNYB also offers a youth reentry program known as Second Chances Youth Reentry to provide additional support to youth returning from juvenile detention.

Learn more about the Newport News YouthBuild and Second Chances Youth Reentry programs by clicking the buttons below!

Core Elements

Prevention

Solutions that keep youth and young adults from entering or re-entering a cycle of violence. Prevention involves efforts to prevent escalation by assisting individuals at an increased risk of violence or exhibiting early signs (or repeated signs) of violent behavior.

Intervention

Projects and policies that assist youth and young adults, as well as their families that have been impacted by violence and will reduce their risk levels of repeat exposure or recidivism.

Eligibility

  • Youth ages 13 – 18
  • Youth coming out of the juvenile detention system

Program Goals

  • Reduce in the incidents of gun violence amongst youth and young adults through the implementation of innovative and technology-based prevention, intervention, enforcement, and re-entry strategies.
  • Enhance and/or expand youth access to mental health services, education, and interventions that prevent and reduce violence.
  • Increase communication, coordination, and collaboration amongst city departments, community-based organizations, businesses, and other key stakeholders.

Hours of Operation

Monday – Friday: 9 AM – 5 PM

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