Summary Report of Mississippi Violence Prevention Injury Prevention (MS-VIP) Study

Focus Group Meeting Results

Conducted

Location:

Focus Group Facilitators:

FOCUS GROUP QUESTIONNAIRE

Study Title: A Proposal to Establish the Mississippi Violence Injury Prevention (VIP) Program

Principal Investigator: Lei Zhang, PhD, MBA

Co-Principal Investigators: Laura Vearrier, MD, DBe; Matthew Kutcher, MD, MS

Focus Group Questionnaire (questions will not be read verbatim but rather conversational)

1. Briefly introduce the purpose of the focus group and review the results of needs assessment survey. Are participants surprised by any of the results? Any important needs not identified by the survey that would be important for an intervention to address?

2. Let's first start with identified needs of firearm survivors. Some of the needs identified by firearm survivors could in some ways be addressed by financial support. What impact do you think providing cash payments (2 one time cash payments of $500) to firearm victims have on both the victim and the community?

   1. Any reasons why a program like this should not be implemented/ unintended consequences?
   2. Any issues with providing this assistance as debit cards, and not as cash, that would prevent people from being able to use it?
   3. What would be the best way to get the debit card to the firearm survivor?

3. Community support was also identified as a need for firearm survivors. There is already an existing program in Jackson called Operation Good (which some of you may know), in which community members known as "violence interrupters" try to address conflicts through de-escalation, work to prevent retaliation after a violent event, and provide support to individuals at high risk for violence. What if we could put together a program in which a community member from Operation Good would connect with a firearm victim in the hospital. What kinds of services do you think that a group like Operation Good could provide to victims of firearm violence that would be most helpful to their personal recovery? To their community's recovery?

   • What would prevent a victim from participating or agreeing to meet with someone?
   • What would increase the likelihood of a victim from participating or agreeing to meet with someone (e.g., certain qualities of the community violence professional)?

4. In addition to supporting firearm victims, we also wanted to consider ways to support the entire community. If we were to have a 'mobile community support services' van come to a community location and provide resources and/or services addressing some of those identified risk factors (mental health, food insecurity, community violence). What types of services do you think would be most important to include in a mobile resource van like this?

   1. Where would be good location where people would come?
   2. What do you think would be the best ways to advertise these planned mobile van visits so that community members were aware of them?
   3. What would prevent someone who could benefit from the services from using it?
   4. What would encourage someone to check it out?

Mississippi Violence Injury Prevention (MS-VIP) Study

Focus Group Meeting Results

Focus Groups 1 and 2

Total N=21

Introduction

On June 19, 2024, the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) PI (Dr. Lei Zhang) conducted a one- hour focus group session with 21 (Group 1-N= 16, Group 2-N =5) African American youth and male community members of the Operation Good Cure Violence Program. The focus group was conducted in person at the Jackson Medical Mall-Community Room in Jackson, Mississippi. The focus group allowed each participant the opportunity to share with the facilitator their opinions, beliefs, and perceptions regarding violence and the firearm injury prevention ideas and concerns I their local community. The focus group transcript was analyzed for general themes by identifying key words and phrases that were commonly mentioned.

The following sections comprise of this reports organizations: (I) General Themes; (II) Key Responses; (III) Direct Transcription of Participants' Comments; (IV) Conclusions; and Recommendations.

1. General Themes
   • We need people who look like us in our community.
   • Community Health Workers, Counselors, Teachers
   • Money Incentives needed
   • Distrust of outside people in the community
     
     
2. Key Responses

1. Briefly introduce the purpose of the focus group and review the results of needs assessment survey. Are participants surprised by any of the results? Any important needs not identified by the survey that would be important for an intervention to address?

The Mississippi Violence Injury Prevention Study was introduced by Dr. Lei Zhang and a detailed review of the needs assessment was shared with the participants.

The participants responded with the following:

• "We need community things to do"
• Gun violence starts at age 10 -17
• Need Conflict resolution classes
• Need Community Events
• "When we get together, it will be conflict"
• "Pettiness"
• Need more community activities
• Need more school activities
• The environment: Abandoned houses, grass needs cutting…

2. Let's first start with identified needs of firearm survivors. Some of the needs identified by firearm survivors could in some ways be addressed by financial support. What impact do you think providing cash payments (2 one time cash payments of $500) to firearm victims have on both the victim and the community?

   • Gun violence is not a problem: it's a symptom of the problem.
   • Cash payments will help but it is not enough
   • $500 is not enough
   • $1,000 is not enough
   • That money will not cover medical bills
   • Will need clothing

1. Any reasons why a program like this should not be implemented/ unintended consequences?

   • Opposite the results
   • They will irresponsibly spend the money
   • This is not the solution
   • Retaliation
   • Need Therapy
   • Need a debit card
   • Health insurance is needed
   • Need credit cards to pay bills
   • Cash Needed
   • Resources and partnerships
   • Need discounts for meds
   • Need discounted care
   • Need mental health counseling
   • Gun violence leads to poverty
   • Need Money
   • Need a health insurance plan
   • Need a relationship with the community partners to get resources
   • Need a discount for gun victims
   • Resources
   • Need Money and resources
   • Poverty and lack of money
   • The money helps
   • Money may aid in drug use
   • Need therapy/ Mental Health Services
   • Need Money for Mental Health Services
   • Make them take a drug test before you give the money

2. Any issues with providing this assistance as debit cards, and not as cash, that would prevent people from being able to use it?

   • Eliminate the debit card
   • Maybe a gift card
   • Debit card
   • Food Card
   • Magnolia/Humana Money Card

3. What would be the best way to get the debit card to the firearm survivor?

   • Eliminate the debit card
   • Give Cash
   • Mail the money or card
   • Need resources
   • Have the police officer to deliver the money
   • Mail
   • In-person
   • Make them sign for the money card

3. Community support was also identified as a need for firearm survivors. There is already an existing program in Jackson called Operation Good (which some of you may know), in which community members known as "violence interrupters" try to address conflicts through de-escalation, work to prevent retaliation after a violent event, and provide support to individuals at high risk for violence. What if we could put together a program in which a community member from Operation Good would connect with a firearm victim in the hospital. What kinds of services do you think that a group like Operation Good could provide to victims of firearm violence that would be most helpful to their personal recovery? To their community's recovery?

   • Need someone from their own community to assist or talk to
   • Not so much red tape to receive services and money to different organizations
   • Provide an advocate to deliver services and resources
   • Need individuals to deliver services: Teachers, Coaches, Counselors
   • Need Mentorship
   • Mental and Physical help
   • Job opportunities
   • Better Housing Opportunities
   • Better Environment Overall

1. What would prevent a victim from participating or agreeing to meet with someone?

   • Fear
   • Distrust
   • Paranoid
   • Shame/Embarrassment
   • Excuses
   • No home training
   • Themselves…people holding themselves back
   • Don't know how to act/No Guidance
   • Folks giving up on them
   • Lose trust

2. What would increase the likelihood of a victim from participating or agreeing to meet with someone (e.g., certain qualities of the community violence professional)?

   • May not believe the help is real
   • Being comfortable with the person coming
   • Outreach organizations
   • Prevention
   • The environment we live in
   • It starts at home
   • Parents do not know how to parent Operation Good, youth participants people who want to see better and do better
   • Less strict regulations/delete red tape
   • Simplify methods for programs to receive funding
   • Use Community Health Workers
   • Influencers and not just church
   • Teachers, coaches, ordinary citizens, trained providers
   • Operation Good (3 Requests)
   • More helping than talking
   • Resources from the grant
   • Violence Interrupters
   • Need more activities for youth Northside and Southside
   • Need an arcade, something for youth to do
   • Need more resources
   • Programs – parenting
   • Support for parents
   • Teach the desire to change
   • Talk to them
   • Feel Welcome
   • Build a Relationship
   • No parents in the home
   • Parenting programs

4. In addition to supporting firearm victims, we also wanted to consider ways to support the entire community. If we were to have a 'mobile community support services' van come to a community location and provide resources and/or services addressing some of those identified risk factors (mental health, food insecurity, community violence) What types of services do you think would be most important to include in a mobile resource van like this?
   

   Mobile Services

1. Where would be good location where people would come?

   • Mobile Van
   • Operation Good
   • Community Van
   • Implement with Action
   • Moblie Services
   • Don't trust the van in my neighborhood
   • Need a building to go to
   • Need more resources
   • "Would not use a van because the community is over policed"
   • To be connected we need a large meeting place
   • Need to use the outreach center
   • Operation Good Headquarters
   • Our people feel entrapped, targeted, distrust
   • Tell the people this is not the police

2. What do you think would be the best ways to advertise these planned mobile van visits so that community members were aware of them?

   • All social media
   • Canvas the neighborhood
   • Black Man to Black Man support/discussion
   • Organizations set up with true reasonings…true meaning
   • Be inviting, let you know what is happening
   • Include South Jackson and West Jackson
   • Need much more advertising
   • See advocacy in the community
   • More Activities
   • Have a barbecue
   • Community Events – Face painting 
   • Game truck
   • At the Park
   • Flyers
   • Social Media
   • Word of Mouth

3. What would prevent someone who could benefit from the services from using it?

   • Lack of information
   • Not being invited
   • Poverty
   • Lack of Resources
   • Person being an addict, on drugs
   • Lack of knowledge

4. What would encourage someone to check it out?

   1. Free Food
   2. Incentives
   3. Location Matters
   4. Go Live
   5. Free Car Wash
   6. Host a community clean-up, pick up trash
   7. Host a Meet and Greet
   8. Voter Registration Drive
   9. Host Giveaways
   10. Provide help with legal services
   11. Provide community service hours 

4. Conclusions
   
   Overall, participants expressed satisfaction with a firearm prevention program in their communities. The participants were also candid about how to approach their communities and who should be part of or frequent their communities. Participants liked various elements of the program to include incentives such as the gift of $500, although many felt that this was not enough compensation for a firearm victim. The attitudes of the participants were similar in the two groups. Additional similarities included distrust of various research groups coming into their neighborhood. Many of the participants appreciated the interactive conversation about firearm prevention in their community.

5. Recommendations
   
   Based on participant responses, we suggest the following recommendations for the firearm prevention program to be a success:

• Listen to the Peers in the group
• Provide training, incentives, support and protection when needed.
• Provide resources individuals can use right away: gift cards, fruits, vegetables, etc.
• Provide youth with more fun activities daily and in the summer.

Mississippi Violence Prevention Injury Prevention (MS-VIP) Study

Focus Group Meeting Results

Focus Groups 3 and 4

Total N=21

Introduction

On June 26, 2024, the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) PI (Dr. Lei Zhang) conducted a one-hour focus group session with 21 (Group 1-N= 10, Group 2-N =11) African American youth and male community members of the Operation Good Cure Violence Program, Community Partners and Local Youth Counselors. The focus group was conducted in person at the Jackson Medical Mall-Community Room in Jackson, Mississippi. The focus group allowed each participant the opportunity to share with the facilitator their opinions, beliefs, and perceptions regarding violence and the firearm injury prevention ideas and concerns in their local community. The focus group transcript was analyzed for general themes by identifying keywords and phrases that were commonly mentioned.

The following sections comprise of this report's organizations: (1) General Themes; (II) Key Responses; (III) Direct Transcription of Participants' Comments; (IV) Conclusions; and Recommendations.

1. General Themes
   
   Need for mental health support,
   Incentive would help, but $500.00 is not enough
   Participants welcomed a program like this in their community
   Distrust would be a factor in the community
   Retaliation may occur.

2. Key Responses
   
   Focus Group Questionnaire (questions will not be read verbatim but rather conversational)

1. Briefly introduce the purpose of the focus group and review the results of needs assessment survey. Are participants surprised by any of the results? Any important needs not identified by the survey that would be important for an intervention to address?

Several participants verbalized they were not surprised at the results.

Important needs stated with this group:

• Need for Better Police
• Need Mental Health Assistance
• Need youth Curfews
• Knowledge of Guns
• Youth Empowerment and Workforce Development
• Need more community centers in the community
• How are these youth getting guns in the first place?
• Why the easy access to guns?
• The easy accessibility to guns?
• Guns and drugs come from outside the community
• Community locals do not have the means to buy guns
• Mainly easy accessibility
• Youth to join organizations/gangs equal to being number 1.

2. Let's first start with identified needs of firearm survivors. Some of the needs identified by firearm survivors could in some ways be addressed by financial support. What impact do you think providing cash payments (2 one-time cash payments of $500) to firearm victims have on both the victim and the community? 

• Bill amounts
• Stop selling youth guns
• $500 is not Enough
• Another respondent said $500 is not enough
• Five other respondents say it is not enough
• Why were they shot initially?
• Police report will tell who's the victim or perpetrator

3. Any reasons why a program like this should not be implemented/unintended consequences?

   • No
   • Money is No Issue, will they spend the money productively
   • How was the victim shot?
   • $500.00 will not pay bills
   • People will rather have groceries instead of $500 cash or card
   • Did the victim make the right choice while being shot?
   • How or why was the victim shot

4. Any issues with providing this assistance as debit cards, and not as cash, that would prevent people from being able to use it?

   • Mail the debit card
   • Put the card in their hands
   • Give the card prior to the hospital discharge
   • Put a structure in place to assist with meds after shooting
   • Help with medical bills
   • How long will assistance last?
   • Resources to further assist

5. What would be the best way to get the debit card to the firearm survivor?

   1. Mail the debit card
   2. Put the card in their hands
   3. Give the card prior to the hospital discharge
   4. Give directly to the victim
   5. Village involvement – "It Takes a Village"
   6. Community Centers
   7. More Activities
   8. Larger participation

6. Community support was also identified as a need for firearm survivors. There is already an existing program in Jackson called Operation Good (which some of you may know), in which community members known as "violence interrupters" try to address conflicts through de-escalation, work to prevent retaliation after a violent event, and provide support to individuals at high risk for violence. What if we could put together a program in which a community member from Operation Good would connect with a firearm victim in the hospital. What kinds of services do you think that a group like Operation Good could provide to victims of firearm violence that would be most helpful to their personal recovery? To their community's recovery?

   • Need help with follow-up checkups
   • Make Mental Health affordable for victims
   • Need more resources

3a) What would prevent a victim from participating or agreeing to meet with someone?

3b) What would increase the likelihood of a victim from participating or agreeing to meet with someone (e.g., certain qualities of the community violence professional)?

4. In addition to supporting firearm victims, we also wanted to consider ways to support the entire community. If we were to have a 'mobile community support services' van come to a community location and provide resources and/or services addressing some of those identified risk factors (mental health, food insecurity, community violence), what types of services do you think would be most important to include in a mobile resource van like this?

   • Mobile Services
   • Advertisement
   • Tour the Community
   • Mobile Van Services

1. What would be a good location where people will come?

   • Churches
   • Community Centers
   • Personal Residence
   • Public Show-up
   • Unmarked vehicles
   • Mental Health Clinics
   • Job Searches
   • Medical Services

2. What do you think would be the best ways to advertise these planned mobile van visits so that community members were aware of them?

   • Community Center
   • Voice of Calvary
   • Meet people where they are
   • Where violence occurs
   • Word of Mouth
   • Commercials
   • Peer Advertisement
   • Social Media, TikTok, IG
   • News
   • Posters
   • Community Events
   • Make sure it's safe
   • Title Matter – Fun Name of Event

3. What would prevent someone who could benefit from the services from using it?

   • Being comfortable
   • Get to know the community
   • People feel like they are a sell-out, sounds weird, not wanting people to know, afraid to change
   • Fear/Safety
   • Peer Pressure
   • Drive-by Shooting

4. What would encourage someone to check it out?

   • Culture Acceptance
   • Diversity
   • Food Drives – give away fruits and vegetables
   • Incentives – Gift cards and giveaways
   • Vague language regarding incentives????
   • Build rapport and trust
   • Do not discriminate
   • Meet people where they are
   • Invite police (for a friendly presence and training) and social services
   • Police with passion
   • Plainclothes Police, blending in and listening to community
   • Radio
   • Social Media
   • WMPR
   • Word of Mouth
   • Wanda Evers 99.7
   • Bobby Rush – Mississippi Blues Singer
   • VFW Social Club
   • Elks Social Club
   • Masonic Temple
   • High Schools

Additional Participant Comments:

• Put information on the flyer and share it on Instagram
• I would like my Grandmother there with me if I got hit with a fire arm
• Have anyone here been affected by gun violence?
• Need programs about Fathers being Fathers
• It starts at home
• Home lacks love and affection and anger management skills
• Giving kids a voice
• Teach them to articulate how they feel
• Please add conflict resolution to the question list!
• Need Assessment, victim needs $500.00
• I would like to see an investment in young people – whole period concept, critical thinking, confidence building
• Strong arm program
• Everything has a risk, especially the marketing of guns and the stable well-being of the person's household
• My family and friends at Strong Hold
• I feel we should add community programs for the youth
• $500.00 is not enough due to inflation; it would help partially
• I think $500 is not enough because what if they get killed?
• Need more advertisements
• Need to tour the community
• Solutions are in the community
• There are 59 homicides in Jackson to date 6/26/2024 

4. Conclusions
   
   Overall, participants verbalized their satisfaction with a firearm prevention program in their communities. The participants also were candid about how to approach their communities and who should be a part of or who should frequent their communities. Participants liked various elements of the program to include incentives such as the gift of $500, although many felt that this was not enough compensation for a firearm victim. The attitudes of the participants were similar in the two groups. Additional similarities included distrust of various research groups coming into their neighborhood. Many of the participants appreciated the interactive conversation about firearm prevention in their community.

5. Recommendations
   
   Based on participant responses, we suggest the following recommendations for the firearm prevention program to be a success:

• Listen to the Peers in the group
• Provide training, incentives, support and protection when needed.
• Provide resources individuals can use right away: gift cards, fruits, vegetables, etc.
• Provide youth with more fun activities daily and in the summer.