Common Ground

A violence reduction strategy

The Woodfin administration has prioritized a three-pronged effort to address violent crime
through investments in prevention and reentry programs as well as enforcement. The strategy is
called Common Ground and builds on the research and collaboration with multiple partners.

Common Ground is a trauma-informed strategy supported by community-based organizations.

The city’s 2023 Operating Budget represents a commitment to investment in areas to support not
only enforcement, but prevention and reentry. Combined, the investment in each of these
initiatives supports an overall engagement to focus on the root causes of violence to enhance the
continuum of care to better address prevention and reentry. Pilot programs and initiatives
supporting the strategy include:

Common Ground H.E.A.T. Curriculum

Partners: City of Birmingham (Birmingham Municipal Court)
Birmingham City Schools, Community Coaches
City Investment: $1 million
Status: Active

The Habilitation, Empowerment, and Accountability Therapy (H.E.A.T.) curriculum will be

taught to more than 400 students from high schools, middle schools, K-8 and alternative schools
within the Birmingham City Schools (BCS) district. The program uses an evidence-based,
culturally relevant, holistic approach to handling anger management and conflict resolution.
The curriculum will be supported by up to 100 trained and credentialed coaches who will
provide therapeutic counseling sessions two times a week within BCS. The program is currently
preparing for expansion into the summer months for current participants and students who have
completed the program but desire additional engagement.

Justice and Governance Partnership

Partners: City of Birmingham, Birmingham City Council,
Jefferson County Commissioner Sheila Tyson, Aspen Institute
City Investment: $275,000
Status: Development

The Justice and Governance Partnership is designed to improve analytical capacity and support
policy improvements focused on ending overdependence on the criminal legal system and
stimulate reinvestment in the local people, institutions and networks most knowledgeable about
neighborhood safety and justice. Birmingham is one of six cities nationwide involved in this
program.
 Mental Health Support for Birmingham City Schools Students
Partners: City of Birmingham, Birmingham City Schools
City Investment: $1 million
Status: Active (2 years)

The City of Birmingham provides funding support to expand mental health services in
Birmingham City Schools. Through the partnership, faculty, staff and support staff have received
MANDT training. The MANDT System is a behavioral crisis interaction training, which teaches
prevention and de-escalation techniques to help people safely manage behavior, so that everyone
can be safe in their environment. The partnership helps BCS provide a full counselor staff for
each school and a critical response team for each school.

RESTORE Pilot Project

Partners: City of Birmingham, Jefferson County Family Court,
Jefferson County Family Resource Center, Jefferson County Detention Center
City Investment: $225,000
Status: Active

RESTORE is a juvenile reentry program providing comprehensive services and support for
youth ages 16 to 19 who are currently committed to the state’s Department of Youth
Services. The services and support include comprehensive family intake and assessment, case
management, benefits assessment, pay for essential documents such as state ID, creation of a
participant educational or career plan, transportation, incentives for progress and success, safe
housing and stability support for families, advocacy, systems navigation and community-based
services.

Safe Havens
Partners: City of Birmingham, Birmingham Park and Recreation Board,
multiple individuals, city departments and organizations support programmatic efforts
City Investment: $1 million
Status: Active

The Birmingham Safe Haven initiative provides youth assistance with homework, recreational
services, personal growth and selfcare, mental health and meals. Parks and Recreation
coordinates through Birmingham schools, professional groups and individuals to mentor youth at
14 city recreation centers (Central Park, East Pinson Valley, Ensley, Fountain Heights, Harrison,
Hawkins, Howze Sanford, Inglenook, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., McAlpine, Memorial,
Roosevelt, Wiggins, Willow Wood).

The Surge Project (BOLD fund recipient)

Partners: City of Birmingham, The Surge Project,
National Training Institute for Healthcare Technicians
City Investment: $80,800
Status: Active
The city’s Department of Innovation and Economic Opportunity awarded funding through the
BOLD program to The Surge Project to provide workforce development for adults ages 18-35 to
aid in the reduction of gun violence through a nine-week soft skills training program. Through a
partnership with the National Training Institute for Healthcare Technicians, 40 individuals will
have an opportunity to become certified healthcare professionals.

Strategy Enhances Broader Investments in Youth

The above partnerships are enhanced by the city’s support to expand early childhood education
through Birmingham Talks and the launch of a financial literacy curriculum for Birmingham
City Schools students with the BHM Financial Freedom program. 

Combined, these programs are part of an overall engagement in multi-sector collaboration to

focus on root causes of violence to enhance the continuance of care to better address prevention
and re-entry.