ST. LOUIS – As a 10-year-old girl recovers from a shooting last night, local leaders are pushing a $600,000 violence prevention initiative aimed at stopping crime before it happens.

The Save Lives Now plan focuses on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), violence interrupters, and focused deterrence.

“We know that CBT works. We know that focused deterrence works. We know that street intervention works,” Director of Save Lives Now Brandon Sterling said.

Violence interrupters—who are community members with firsthand experience in violence—play a key role in calming conflicts.

“Most of them have even experienced violence or been perpetrators of violence at one point in their lives, so now they’re able to take their influence and use that to calm down circumstances,” Senior VP of Engagement for Mission STL: Show Me Peace added.

Watson emphasized the program goes beyond intervention.

“It’s not just about addressing what took place; it’s about getting to the root of why it took place,” he said. “How can I begin to establish a relationship with you to help me understand why you’re responding with this violent behavior?”

St. Louis is launching the first phase of training, with St. Louis County and St. Clair County to follow.