Peacekeepers

The Peacekeepers Program is a grant opportunity provided by the Illinois Department of Human Services to fund public or private non-profit community-based organizations to implement a proven strategy to create a safe presence and reduce violence in high-risk areas. The program will engage community organizations that are experts in stopping violence in their communities, support highest risk individuals to change their lives, and focus on intersections or streets within communities that experience high volumes and rates of shootings/violence. The program will provide training and stipends to Peacekeepers, who will mediate and de-escalate conflicts in assigned hotspots. The goal of the program is to reduce violence, strengthen community-based capacity, and build a long-term talent pipeline within Reimagine Public Safety Act (RPSA) communities. Key deliverables include engaging and supporting subrecipient organizations, ensuring subrecipient programming, and providing training and technical assistance. • The program will serve approximately 30 designated service areas in Chicago and suburban Cook County. • The program will provide a daily stipend to Peacekeepers, who will be recruited and engaged from within their communities. • The program will provide training and technical assistance to Peacekeepers, including training on cognitive behavioral intervention, financial literacy, conflict mediation, and job readiness. • The program will require providers to participate in evaluation efforts and collect and report data accordingly. • The program will require providers to ensure data is collected and available from subrecipients.