The National Network of Hospital-based Violence Intervention Programs’ annual conference draws a diverse audience committed to breaking the cycle of violence and promoting healing in communities where violent injuries occur. The over 200 attendees include: frontline gang intervention workers, pediatric and adult physicians, public officials, experts and emerging researchers from various academic fields, crisis responders, community-based programs and organizations, social workers, mental health providers, nurses, members of state/local/federal government, and community members affected by and/or responding to violence. Presentations are encouraged that honor, promote and build upon the expertise of conference attendees.
Proposed Session Title: Mental Health Interventions In Violence Interrupter Programs
Suggest a title (8-10 words) that is informative and clearly reflects the presentation content.
PRESENTER(S) BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Name of Lead Speaker/Proposal Submitter: Kenton Kirby, LMSW
This person will be the contact and is responsible for all session logistics
Job Title: Men’s Empowerment Coordinator Organization: Crown Heights Community Mediation
Center
NNHVIP affiliation (i.e. member program, emerging program, other.):Not currently an NNHVIP member, but program is an OVC-funded demonstration project focusing on the trauma experienced by young men of color.
Street Address:256 Kingston Avenue
City, State, Zip: Brooklyn, NY 11213
Telephone: (718) 773-6886 Email: kkirby@crownheights.org

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Additional Speakers: If applicable, identify any additional speakers below with e-mail and phone information.
Name E-mail address Phone #
Click here to enter text.
Professional Background: Provide a 1-4 sentence biography for each speaker to be used as an introduction as well as an overview of your knowledge and experience related to the proposed session topic and HVIP field; i.e.: years of experience in the related field, degrees held and from what academic institutions, current appointments, concurrent responsibilities, areas of specialty, past speaking engagements, etc.
Kenton Kirby, LMSW runs a therapeutic program for young men of color who have been directly and indirectly impacted by violence. Kenton Kirby has worked with people in crisis for the past twelve years. Mr. Kirby has a Master’s Degree in Social Work from New York University and is a
Licensed Master Social Worker in the state of New York.

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PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION
Presentation Learning Objectives: List 3 educational goals of the presentation that specify what participants will learn as a result of attending the presentation.
( NNHVIP reserves the right to edit objectives to meet requirements for CEUs)
1.
Learn how the Make it Happen program is integrating trauma informed care within our Save Our Streets programming.
2.
Understand the structure of the Make it Happen therapeutic programming.
3.
Discuss methods for collaborating with traditional victim service agencies, including a recent model in Brooklyn bringing together victim service agencies, agencies serving young men of color, and the community.
Session Categories: Check one or more categories that best represent the focus area of the presentation.
☐ Promoting Equity / Addressing Bias
☐ Policy and/or Advocacy
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Bridging Direct Service & Advocacy
☐ Research
☐ Other: Click here to enter text.
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Best Practices in Direct Services
Trauma-Informed Care
Mental Health
Hospital-Community Partnership
Healing the Healers / Self-Care
I submit this workshop proposal for consideration for the preferred following event format(s):
(Check all that apply)
Presentation Length:
☐ 90 minute breakout session
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40 minute presentation to be paired with another presentation on a similar topic
Presentation Format:
☐ Presentation (with or without Q&A to follow)
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Interactive training or conversation
(At this year’s conference, the planning committee is giving special consideration to interactive workshops that build on the skills and expertise of audience members. If checked, please specify what methods will be used to ensure audience participation and interaction on the topic presented.)
This presentation will be interactive and encourage audience participation. We want to discuss the work we do in engaging with this population, but we also want to have a discussion with audience members/service providers to brainstorm strategies on how to improve best practice.
Further, we plan to engage in a robust discussion about how to break down barriers between young men of color and traditional victim service agencies, which are often not welcoming to this population.

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Session Narrative: Please summarize the presentation in no more than 500 words).
This will be utilized to evaluate the overall relevance and quality of the proposed presentation. If your presentation is selected, this narrative will also be adapted for the Conference Program.
Make It Happen, a therapeutic program located in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, provides services to young men of color who have been impacted by violence. The presentation will describe the unique placement of the Make It Happen program within the Save Our Streets program. This placement, along with the program’s relationships with hospitals and traditional victim service agencies, helps to improve service delivery to a population not necessarily inclined to seek formal help. The purpose of Make it Happen is to provide trauma informed services to young men of color who have been harmed but have not historically been offered help as traditional
“victims.” Participants will learn about therapeutic group discussion topics, including unpacking the definition of black masculinity and the ways in which this can be intertwined with trauma.
The presentation will provide a framework of recruitment strategies for programming and treatment modalities that are incorporated into our work to support violence interrupter programs. Finally, the presentation will focus on the ongoing efforts to improve access to
“traditional” victim service providers, using an example of a year-long collaboration culminating in a spring 2015 conference held in Brooklyn; the conference promoted action-oriented discussions between agencies serving young men of color, traditional victim service agencies, community members, and young men themselves.
Presentation Agreement:
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Submit my PowerPoint presentation via email or flash drive no later than September 21, 2015.
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Provide all required information and affirmations for CEU certification, by due dates requested.
Prepare, duplicate, and distribute handout materials for my presentation at my expense.
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Allow NNHVIP to list my contact information on printed and online materials.
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Presenters may not sell, promote or pitch any specific product or service.
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I understand NNHVIP cannot pay honoraria, travel, per diem, handouts or other costs for speakers. In appreciation for your contribution, one approved speaker may attend the conference at no cost for registration.
By submitting your presentation, you are agreeing to the presentation agreement.
*** Email submissions by May 1, 2015, to Ahmed Ali-Bob at ahmed@youthalive.org
***