Dr. Sara Heller, along with researchers at the University of Chicago and Cornell University, is studying the Rapid Employment and Development Initiative (READI) in Chicago. READI aims to identify men at the very highest risk of shooting or being shot and provide them with a combination of an 18-month job, cognitive behavioral therapy, and other support services. The study recently received $1.9 million in funding from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities at NIH.

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin discussed the award as part of an event about federal funding for gun violence prevention last Friday (Press release information is here). More information about the research is here, and details of the NIH R01 are here.