Violence Prevention Center collaborates to build safer communities

The Violence Prevention Center, which is housed in the College of Health and Human Services, serves as a resource for violence prevention research, training and technical assistance for communities, policymakers and the public.

Led by Professor Apryl Alexander, Psy.D, the center collaborates with academic, public and governmental partners to research and implement empirically informed violence prevention and intervention programs.

Most recently, the center has formed a partnership with Atrium Health, now part of Charlotte-based Advocate Health, and its Project BOOST (Building Optimal Outcomes for Survivors of Trauma) violence intervention program. 

Based at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center, Project BOOST provides support to individuals between the ages of 15 and 24 who’ve been admitted to the hospital for treatment of violent injuries such as gunshot wounds, stabbings and serious assaults. 

The Violence Prevention Center is working with the Charlotte Regional Data Trust, part of the University’s Charlotte Urban Institute,to use administrative and cross-sector data to evaluate the work of Project BOOST.