Programs
Anti-Bullying Program
This program collaborates with our navigation department, outreach services, and violence interrupters. We employ a curriculum developed by a former incarcerated individual in partnership with Operation Good Foundation to address bullying prevalent in inner cities and schools. The program focuses on both victims of bullying and individuals who exhibit bullying behavior. Formerly incarcerated individuals participate by reading the anti-bullying materials they created in schools and at the Operation Good Foundation activity center. High-risk youth are engaged through discussions about real-life experiences. The program consists of an 8-week curriculum for both bullies and their targets, involving the completion of anti-bullying workbooks and culminates in a unity event. The primary objectives are to reduce youth violence, enhance unity, and foster safer school environments.
School-Based Violence Intervention
Our School-Based Violence Intervention program was established last year in response to a significant rise in school violence linked to various cliques and social media disputes. The program primarily operates through our School-Based Violent Interrupters, who visit schools, build relationships with faculty, and provide support (e.g., water, school supplies, snacks for events). These relationships are leveraged to mitigate violent situations within schools.
Additionally, our staff stays informed about potential conflicts through community members who alert them to concerning social media activity or overheard conversations. This proactive presence helps prevent many incidents, thereby reducing the spillover of violence from schools into the streets. Our School-Based Violent Interrupters frequently coordinate with Street Violent Interrupters to enhance the program's effectiveness.
The primary benefit of this initiative is minimizing street-related violence by addressing school-based issues early through mediation. The program aims to continue these efforts in the upcoming fiscal year. Moreover, we have introduced allowances for students who conduct themselves appropriately, reinforcing positive behavior both at school and in their communities. This approach helps avoid the perception that negative behavior is rewarded, instead promoting good conduct among high-risk students.
We collaborate with Jackson Public Schools, counselors, community members, Hinds County Youth Probation Service, and other organizations to ensure the success of our program.
Behind the Walls/Out on the Street
Our Behind the Walls/Out on the Street Program is the foundation of Operation Good's initial concept, aimed at reducing recidivism. This objective remains unchanged today. The program is designed to support both those who are incarcerated and those who have recently been released. The goals include assisting the families of incarcerated individuals with issues at home and alleviating financial burdens placed on them by helping those who are incarcerated.
We began supporting families to prevent the incarcerated from feeling compelled to make desperate decisions. We focus on mentally preparing the incarcerated for positive and productive reintegration, emphasizing employment or legal entrepreneurship, while simultaneously addressing the needs of their loved ones. This approach creates a level of comfort for the incarcerated, ensuring their families' security, allowing them to concentrate on personal growth and development, life after incarceration, and education.
During their time behind bars, we help them establish life goals, dream jobs, and set expectations. Upon release, we initiate the Out on The Street Program, which starts with reacclimating individuals to the current environment, followed by job searches and community involvement through work with Operation Good as contractors or volunteers. We ensure transportation needs are met, provide pocket money, and build their self-confidence and outlook on future possibilities.
Our program has achieved significant success. Our goal for 2025 is to continue expanding and enhancing this success. We already have new participants lined up for 2025 and are actively working with them. This program has proven effective in reducing violence, increasing the labor force, and positively transforming many families' lives. We collaborate with MS Reentry Coalition, One Voice, numerous individuals, and street groups.
It Takes a Village
As part of efforts to reduce gun violence and address its root causes, Operation Good Foundation introduced the “It Takes A Village” program in May 2024. This model offers comprehensive services to the families of high-risk participants. To alleviate the stress and strain experienced by many families in Jackson, MS, Navigators are embedded into these families to provide immediate support, guidance, mentoring, job searches, and wraparound services. This is done through intensive family intervention and navigation.
Immediate support includes ensuring food security, utilities, and housing for families. After providing immediate assistance, the program connects families with long-term support partners from Canopy Link. For counseling services, partnerships with Nfusion and Marion Counseling are utilized. The program also collaborates with various employers to secure job opportunities for employable family members. Navigators work to meet educational needs, ensure proper documentation and identification for all household members, and help dropouts obtain GEDs or connect with the Career Development Center for skill trade certificates.
After six months, the program shifts from intensive intervention to providing ongoing support and follow-ups. During the summer of 2024, the presence and assistance offered by the program helped reduce violence by addressing the needs of high-risk participants. The curriculum includes a Risk Need Resilience test for high-risk participants, and the program is currently ongoing. This initiative has made changes in streets and communities and operates with organizations like Canopy Links, Marion Counseling, Nfusion, Merit Health, Hinds County Youth Probation Services, UMMC, and One Voice.
Change The Environment / Change The Mindset
We have observed that the environment influences the mindset of high-risk participants. In impoverished areas of Jackson, MS, where the poverty rate is 25.9%, abandoned properties, broken infrastructure, and crime are common sights. This negative environment makes it difficult for youth and community members to prosper.
To address this, we engage high-risk participants in projects that improve their neighborhoods. This not only helps them give back but also teaches them work skills, community pride, and personal responsibility. Our efforts have successfully reduced violence and improved many neighborhoods by fostering unity and cleaning up the surroundings.
Hospital Based Violence Intervention Program
To continue our efforts of reducing retalliation, repeat victims of violence, death and or incarceration we work with the only Level One Trauma hospital in the State of MS, UMMC to provide support services and mediations.
