Violence Prevention and Crisis Response for Today's Workforce
What is PreventEdge?
PreventEdge is a training and education program aimed at providing leaders, employers and community members with the information, preparation and policies they need to minimize or eliminate the threat of crime and violence. Workplace violence accounts for nearly 20% of all violent crime, costing American businesses an estimated $42 billion annually and the loss of 3.5 work days per crime. St. Louis residents experience crime in every aspect of their lives: on the job, at home, by those they know and by strangers.
The burden of crime and violence to businesses includes loss of productivity and wages, increased insurance premiums, medical/mental health costs, legal fees, and more…but more importantly, the burden of trauma and daily dysfunction to the lives of the residents it touches. The physical, emotional and financial effects of crime and violence are an undeniable deterrent to the social well-being and prosperity of any community.
Through experiential training modules, PreventEdge:
helps companies and organizations identify and implement proven violence prevention practices;
trains community members and leaders in conflict mediation to de-escalate potentially violent situations; and
ensures citizens and businesses have the capacity to respond quickly and supportively if a incident of violence occurs.
PreventEdge’s Innovative Approach
For Corporations Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation jointly prioritized workplace violence prevention and crisis response training as an American industry mandate. Our curriculum integrates the unique, expert knowledge of the Crime Victim Advocacy Center’s 37- year history of victim response, reflecting the true experiences of victims we serve and utilizing real scenarios for review and practice.
For Community Members In the wake of a weakening economy, there are no prominent crime and violence prevention programs being offered to the community at-large in the City of St. Louis. PreventEdge will help citizens assess their security (through security audits of their personal property), determine the preventative measures they can take to deter crime, learn about resources available to reduce domestic violence, and engage in community-building strategies that are best-practice solutions to creating a crime-free neighborhood.
PreventEdge Services
PreventEdge training is offered by subject matter or in 1, 4, 8, and 10-hour training modules in addition to general community outreach and security audit activities. There are three training options:
Violence Prevention and Crisis Response Training - This training is offered in three tracks:
Leadership Track for managers, faith leaders and community leaders that focuses on integrating prevention practices and policies into daily operations;
Certification Track (a more intense, 25-hour training focusing on victim needs and reactions that certifies a designated employee or community member as a Victim Advocate), and
Individual Track that will provide generalized prevention and awareness training in a variety of topics (such as child protection, internet safety, identity theft prevention, domestic and sexual assault prevention, protecting against property crimes, etc.).
Policy and Procedure Consultation - PreventEdge will help companies and organizations evaluate or create policies and procedures that are supportive to employees’ and citizens’ experiences with crime and violence and include comprehensive crisis response.
Crisis Response - In the event an incident of violence occurs, PreventEdge will provide on-site crisis response free of charge. This includes crisis debriefing, victim advocacy and longer-term counseling as needed.