HALO and Faith in Action team up for violence intervention training sessions

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - A hospital-based violence intervention program that launched in September 2025 is expanding into community prevention training after serving more than 100 gunshot victims.

Healing and Life Opportunities, known as HALO, connects violence intervention specialists with gunshot victims shortly after they arrive at University Hospital. The program offers assistance with anything clients may need during and after treatment.

“It’s definitely bittersweet the fact that we’ve seen such the high volume of individuals that we’ve seen but then the reality is to have a program like this available otherwise those clients, or those patients would be back in the community without any support,” said Joshua Jones, director of HALO.

Community training initiative

The program is moving into violence prevention by creating what Jones calls an ecosystem made up of community members to provide support.

“Before they get to the hospital, before they get to law enforcement they are encountered by someone in the community who can help assist and change to, we want to empower our community members with those skills necessary,” Jones said.

HALO is partnering with Faith in Action to train community members to spot the warning signs of violence and connect people to help before it’s too late.

“How to treat individuals or help individuals who may be exhibiting those high-risk factors for being either a victim or perpetrator of violence, being able to help strengthen those protective factors that keep individuals from going down that road but then also connecting them to the services that are available,” Jones said.

Jones said they are looking for people from all walks of life and with different organizations to collaborate on ways to make the community safer.

“It’s the yes and. Yes, get them in church and get them in a trade and get them connected to positive role models. I think when everybody gets to sit down and have these conversations and get the training associated with this they’ll understand it’s bigger than one pillar,” Jones said.

HALO is hosting a two-part training option on April 21 and 23 from 1-5 p.m. as well as a one-day option from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on April 25.

To sign up, you can scan one of the QR codes below.