Partnership looks to reduce gun violence in Omaha

What: A new partnership between Omaha’s academic health centers — including UNMC — and a community-based organization that helps Omaha residents with gang intervention aims to lessen the problem of gun violence in the city.

More online Read an Omaha World-Herald story about the partnership.

Why: Hundreds of people are injured in incidents of gun violence in Omaha each year. In 2010, The Nebraska Medical Center alone treated 114 cases of gun-related injuries. Nearly one-third of those injured were 18 or younger.

How it works: The project will use “violence interrupters” from the community organization — Impact One — to help stymie more bloodshed following an incident. Then, UNMC researchers will investigate risk factors that led the to violence and develop strategies to lessen the chances of future outbursts. Other cities have found similar approaches helped reduce gun violence.

Support: The $100,000 project is supported through a partnership between the Violence Reduction Fund, UNMC’s College of Public Health, The Nebraska Medical Center and Creighton University Medical Center. The fund was established in 2010 by Omaha state Sens. Brad Ashford and Brenda Council along with civic leader Jane Rogers.