Safe & Sound Hillsborough

The Hillsborough County Community Violence Prevention Collaborative (VPC or Collaborative) was created in the summer of 2013 as an initiative to transform the way local policy makers address violence. This initiative shifts policy from a public safety to a public health model and aligns community and professional stakeholders to develop a comprehensive prevention and intervention approach.

Our Vision

Working together to build strong families, safe schools and healthy neighborhoods.

 

Our Values

Violence is preventable.
Address the gaps to ensure all children and youth have nurturing and supportive families and communities.
Build on strengths of youth, families, professionals and community.
Promote the value of equity and ensure equal opportunities by investing resources where they will have the greatest impact and improving the infrastructure of neighborhoods where social problems have accumulated.
Focus on those at risk due to exposure to child maltreatment, intimate partner violence and community violence.

Our Goals

Support the Health and Well-Being of All Families
Cultivate a Connected Community
Improve Conditions in Neighborhoods Most Impacted by Violence
Coordinate Efforts to Maximize our Impact

How We Got Started

The Hillsborough County Community Violence Prevention Collaborative (VPC or Collaborative) was created in the summer of 2013 as an initiative to transform the way local policy makers address violence. This initiative shifts policy from a public safety to a public health model and aligns community and professional stakeholders to develop a comprehensive prevention and intervention approach…

Working together to build strong families, safe schools, and healthy neighborhoods.

Click to watch Freddy being honored as a Lightning Community Hero.

Congratulations to Executive Director Freddy Barton for being honored with the Lightning Community Hero Award. Thanks to a generous grant from the Tampa Bay Lightning as part of their Community Heroes program, Safe & Sound Hillsborough was able to purchase 2 vans and provide insurance to assist in the transportation needs of its Reporting Center and other programs.

“Blink” – A Gun Violence Prevention Short Film

According to the Tampa Police Department, in 2022, there were 170 non-fatal and 39 fatal shootings in the city of Tampa and according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office , there were an additional 70 non-fatal and 34 fatal shootings in unincorporated Hillsborough County, outside of the city of Tampa. Combined, these numbers nearly doubled from the previous year’s totals.

This film tackles the devastating and critical issue of gun violence in our communities, the choices made by our youth to pick up firearms and the consequences thereof. Imagine if a different path is chosen. What would it take? Who can help? And where do we begin? These are the questions that will be in the minds of viewers as the film concludes. From parents, other family members, teachers, friends, faith leaders, neighbors, public officials and to our youth themselves, we all have a role to play in preventing one more life from being lost to senseless gun violence. Watch the Film

Anti-violence program encourages young people to consider consequences

Safe and Sound, a violence prevention collaborative in Hillsborough County, Fla., recently launched a yearlong program aimed at young people to prevent community violence. Read full County News article – pg4

 

Teen charged in shooting of unmarked patrol car

“Freddy Barton, executive director of Safe and Sound Hillsborough, said young people getting involved in gun violence is a growing concern. As a father of two, Barton said he’s concerned about their safety and welfare which is why he works with youth in Hillsborough County.” Watch Video Bay News 9

 

2022 Julianne M. Holt Service Excellence Award Recipient

Congratulations to Safe & Sound Hillsborough’s Executive Director Freddy Barton for being honored today by the Juvenile Justice Board, Circuit Thirteen as the 2022 recipient of the Julianne M. Holt Service Excellence Award. Learn More

Youth Leadership Program

Safe & Sound Hillsborough is thrilled to continue our partner alongside the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the 2022-2023 Youth Leadership Program with students from Young Middle Magnet School. This year’s theme is CONNECTION and addresses 5 components: Self-Awareness, Responsible Decision-Making, Self-Management, Relationship Skills and Social Awareness . Learn More

A mission to curb violence in Hillsborough 

Freddy Barton is the executive director of Safe & Sound Hillsborough, a violence prevention collaborative that puts communities first. Read Full Tampa Bay Times Article

Teen Consequences of Choices Program

Safe & Sound Hillsborough partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and the Corrections Transition Program to provide an innovative, fun, and interactive workshop entitled “Consequences of Choices”, serving over 100 teens this summer.  Learn More

Become a Mental Health First Aider

Safe & Sound Hillsborough now offers free in-person and virtual Adult and Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training, a public education program that helps individuals across the country to understand mental illnesses, support timely intervention and save lives. Learn More

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Linebacker J.J. Russell supports Safe & Sound Hillsborough through NFL’s My Cause, My Cleats Campaign

We sincerely thank the NFL, our social justice partners the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Linebacker J.J. Russell for choosing Safe & Sound Hillsborough as his “My Cause, My Cleats” non-profit organization this year.
The NFL’s annual campaign was created for players to raise awareness for non-profit organizations and causes that has personally impacted their lives off the field and to wear their heart on their cleats during an upcoming game. Learn More