OCHN announces blueprint for preventing violence in communities

OAKLAND COUNTY, MI (April 5, 2023) – Oakland Community Health Network (OCHN) is pleased to present their Blueprint for Preventing Community Violence.
OCHN contracted with the Michigan Public Health Institute (MPHI) in May of 2022 to facilitate the process for creating a violence prevention Blueprint for Oakland County. Fifteen members representing government and community organizations including churches, schools, law enforcement, and victim services groups comprised the Advisory Committee (AC) that worked alongside OCHN to guide the Blueprint creation. A total of 62 individuals from the community who are invested in violence prevention, had accessed services from violence prevention, or have provided services in Oakland County participated in 10 focus groups.

For the purposes of the Blueprint, the AC defined community as the connection between all people who live, work, play, and pray in Oakland County.

Senator Rosemary Bayer, representing MI District 13, states “I’m excited about the work done by OCHN to fearlessly dig deep into the issues of violence in Oakland County, getting to the roots and creating a blueprint for significant change, with the goal of reducing violence county-wide. The focus on strengthening cultural norms related to violence prevention, improving youth connectedness, reducing stigma related to accessing mental health, and working as one community can and hopefully will demonstrate an innovative and highly successful cultural change, reducing community violence.”

There are a lot of factors that can impact violence, but growing evidence shows that “risk factors” and “protective factors” seen at the community level have the potential to tip the scales, exposing entire communities to violence. The Blueprint focuses on preventing and intervening in interpersonal violence in the lives of families and children and is designed as a 3-to-5-year plan to address violence in Oakland County through both primary prevention and victim support services.

To view OCHN’s Blueprint for Preventing Community Violence in Oakland County, visit www.oaklandchn.org

About OCHN
OCHN is contracted by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to lead a provider service network that assists approximately 27,000 Oakland County citizens at more than 300 service sites across the county. People who receive public behavioral health services through OCHN's provider network include those who have an intellectual or developmental disability, mental health concerns, or substance use disorder. Most of these individuals have Medicaid insurance coverage.
OCHN's goal is to ensure these individuals are aware of and have access to services and supports that will improve their health and quality of life, as well as ensure their engagement in full community participation. Its mission to “inspire hope, empower people, and strengthen communities” reflects an unyielding belief in a "Valuable System for Valued People." Programs and supports provided by OCHN's service network are available at www.oaklandchn.org.
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