Common Ground

This article is about the violence reduction initiative. For other uses, see Common Ground (disambiguation).

Common Ground, also known as the H.E.A.T. Program (for Habilitation, Empowerment, and Accountability Therapy) is a conflict-resolution curriculum used in Birmingham Municipal Court and Birmingham City Schools to help residents to manage anger and shun violence.

The H.E.A.T. Program curriculum was developed by Darryl Turpin during his time as director of the Drug Court Programs Office in Louisville, Kentucky and as branch manager of program development for the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice. It is offered through his company, The Pinwheel Group, based in Louisville.

The H.E.A.T. Program was implemented as a diversion program focused on drug use and abuse at Birmingham Municipal Court. With direction from Judge Andra Sparks it was expanded to work with issues leading to violence and conflict.

A pilot version of the H.E.A.T. Program was implemented at Carver High School in 2021. In 2022, with the support of superintendent Mark Sullivan and the city's principals, the Birmingham City Council approved a 3-year contract for $1 million to fund the program.

As proposed, each school will select 15 to 20 students from grades 6 through 12 to meet twice weekly with trained coaches for "therapeutic counseling". The city's investment in the H.E.A.T. Program is intended to complement other initiatives to expand mental health support, career and life-skills programs, and re-entry services to school-age residents.

References

• "City of Birmingham to launch conflict resolution curriculum in Birmingham City Schools" (November 21, 2022) City of Birmingham press release