Tracking county, city progress on gun violence reduction efforts

One year ago this week, the same group met for its first summit on gun violence, vowing to create a roadmap to building an "ecosystem" to combat the issue.

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- County, city and community leaders met for a summit Thursday to discuss ways to reduce gun violence.

One year ago this week, the same group met for its first summit on gun violence, vowing to create a roadmap to building an "ecosystem" to combat the issue.

"The county and city are listening, and we're doing everything we can to build out the ecosystem and infrastructure that can support [survivors and victims] and their loved ones and help keep them safe," said District Attorney Jose Garza. "We've made great progress, but we still have work to do."

Below are updates from the county on the progress of this process over the last year, per the DA's office and county judge's office:

• Proposal written in conjunction with sheriff's office to acquire National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) technology,  which utilizes a pooled database to help law enforcement more efficiently analyze ballistic evidence, which can streamline investigations.
• DA's office is about 6 months away from a formal proposal for to connect community-based partners with resources for people who are at-risk of committing acts of gun violence.
• $500,000 of county money allocated to create a pilot program for a hospital-based intervention program. This program would help connect victims of violent crime with people who can help them get access to legal help, mental health assistance and other resources. County leaders are currently meeting with area hospitals to plan out logistics.

Below are updates from Austin's Office of Violence Prevention regarding its progress:

• Trauma Recovery Center (TRC) set to be up-and-running Sept. 1. The project secured both city and county funding. The TRC provides similar resources as the aforementioned hospital-based intervention program, but focuses more on long-term resources.
• Community violence intervention programs active in Rundberg and Riverside communities.
• Police, academics and community leaders came together for a multi-disciplinary approach to combat crime at Givens Park in east Austin, which we have covered in-depth.

Michelle Myles, manager of the Office of Violence Prevention, said individual community advocacy groups have been conducting work like these around the city for years, and while they serve as the backbone for anti-violence efforts - Myles said in a panel discussion Thursday she hopes to secure more funding so these programs can work together and expand their outreach.

"We're still looking to learn, we're looking to invest," said Myles, adding that she has requested $2 million of funding in the next city budget for efforts like this.

"Doing things like working with youth, working with people returning from being incarcerated," said Council Member Allison Alter, who has been working closely with the Office of Violence Prevention.

Tonight at 6, hear what a participant in the Jails to Jobs program thinks needs to be done to reduce gun violence. We will update this story this afternoon.