Project Ujima

Project Ujima, a community project committed to helping stop the cycle of violent crimes by reducing the number of repeat victims of violence, started in 1996.

It includes the collaborative efforts of Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, the Medical College of Wisconsin and Children's Service Society of Wisconsin.

Since 1996, more than 2,000 adolescents with injuries due to interpersonal violence have been treated in the Emergency Department/Trauma Center at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. Because violent injuries are associated with psychological trauma, poor school performance, criminal detention and repeat incidents of violence, Project Ujima establishes a network of services that assist with physical, psychological and social recovery.

Services
The project's four main elements are:

• Hospital-based services - medical care, peer counselor care and support, family and youth social and emotional assessment and a medical/psychological referral.
• Home-based services - medical follow-up, psychological screening, comprehensive youth and family social asset assessment and referral to community-based services.
• Community-based services - youth development programs, family development programs, housing and school support, legal assistance and job preparation and referrals including employment as a Project Ujima peer liaison and gang intervention.
• Community/professional education on youth violence - monthly seminars on youth violence and youth development, advocacy, participation in and support of community activities and forums.
  

"Ujima" is the third principle of Kwanzaa and is a Ki-swahili word meaning working together to make things right.

In addition to services provided to violently injured youth, Project Ujima offers comprehensive services to adult crime victims and their families. These crimes include homicide, rape/sexual assault, robbery, property crime and domestic violence.

Program Awards
In November 2004, Project Ujima received the "Professional Innovation in Victim Services" award from the Federal Department of Justice.

In 2003, Project Ujima received the "Outstanding Achievement in Sustained Community-University Partnerships" award from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.

Project Ujima was recognized with an honorable mention for innovation by the Association for the Care of Children' Health in June 1996.

For more information, visit Children's Service Society of Wisconsin's Web site at www.cssw.org and click on Crime Victim Services-Project Ujima, or call (414) 266-2557.