Future is NOW (Non-violent Options Win): mixed methods evaluation of a primary violence prevention program

Gun violence is the leading cause of death in children and a public health epidemic, disproportionately affecting Black youth. The Future is Now (Non-violent Options Win) was established in 2023 as a multiorganizational partnership and primary violence prevention effort. Medical student volunteers host once-a-month education sessions for children ages 4-15 on healthcare topics and wellness practices. Our study aimed to better characterize program participants and assess its initial impact.

We used a mixed-methods approach. We invited children and guardians to complete questionnaires, which included demographics and questions focused on their perceptions of healthcare and the program on a five-point Likert scale. We then conducted in-depth, semistructured individual interviews with the guardians to further understand the impact of the program and ways to expand. We used thematic analysis to identify and compare common themes.

A total of eight guardians and seven children completed the questionnaires. Four out of eight guardians completed the interview. Seven (88%) of the guardians and six (86%) of the children were Black. The remaining guardian and child were White. Three (38%) of the guardians who completed the questionnaire and one (25%) of those interviewed reported that they had witnessed or experienced gun violence. Major themes from the interview analysis included positive feelings towards healthcare and the Future is NOW program, with the most impactful aspects being the hands-on activities, exposure to different topics and careers, and interactions with the volunteers. Most of the children experienced bullying; the guardians recommended including education about bullying. Other recommendations included bringing in more representative guest speakers and teaching violence prevention.

This primary prevention program appears to have positively influenced the involved children and guardians. Additional efforts will be made to expand the curriculum to address the needs of the participants and reach more children in the community.