Cure the Street DC

Cure the Streets DC — Organization Overview

Father Factor Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization currently implementing the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement’s (ONSE) Cure the Streets Violence Interruption Program, one of Washington, D.C.’s premier, evidence-based violence prevention initiatives.

Serving communities in Wards 5–8, Father Factor operates the Cure Violence Public Health Model in the neighborhoods of Historic Anacostia, Bellevue, Washington Highlands, and Ivy City/Sursum Corda.

What Cure the Streets Does

Cure the Streets trains and deploys credible messengers, violence interrupters, and trusted outreach workers who work directly on the ground to prevent conflicts from escalating into shootings or homicides.

The initiative follows the Cure Violence Health Model, a comprehensive, data-driven, research-based approach that treats violence as a public health issue, not a moral failing. The model recognizes violence as a disease — something that spreads, escalates, and requires targeted intervention and community healing to cure.

Core Components of the Cure Violence Model

1

Detect & Interrupt Violence

Identify emerging conflicts, “beefs,” or neighborhood tensions.
Mediate before violence occurs.
Conduct follow-up to ensure conflicts remain resolved.

2

Identify & Treat Highest-Risk Individuals

Engage individuals most likely to be involved in shootings or homicides.
Provide pathways to support: employment, education, mental health services, drug treatment, and wrap-around resources.

3

Mobilize the Community

Build community advisory boards made up of:
- Clergy
- Local residents
- Schools
- Businesses
- Government agencies
- Nonprofit partners
- Shift neighborhood norms around violence and empower collective action.

Proven Effectiveness

The Cure Violence Model has been adopted in 16 U.S. cities — including Chicago, Baltimore, and New Orleans — and 9 international locations, such as Trinidad and Tobago and Cape Town, South Africa. These communities have reported measurable reductions in shootings and homicides after implementing this model.