Albuquerque Community Safety Expands School-Based Violence Intervention Program to Del Norte High School
Fourth high school joins mentorship program supporting students impacted by violence and trauma
ALBUQUERQUE - A city mentorship program that is helping stop youth violence before it starts is expanding. Albuquerque Community Safety is now operating its School-Based Violence Intervention Program (SBVIP) at Del Norte High School, becoming the fourth Albuquerque high school to host full-time, on-campus intervention support for students navigating violence, trauma, and disconnection from school.
Already operating at West Mesa High School, RFK High School, and Atrisco Heritage Academy High School the program places trained ACS Intervention Specialists directly on campus to provide students with individualized mentorship, academic support, and critical access to wraparound services like housing assistance, food security, and job placement.
(See today’s press conference announcing the expansion to Del Norte High School here.)
“The program is about never giving up on our kids. We’re getting ahead of violence by putting the right people in the right place at the right time,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “We’re proud to bring this proven model to Del Norte—and we’re working to expand it to every APS high school.”
The School Based Violence Intervention Program is part of the Mayor’s broader teen focused initiative, called Teen Connect, a prevention-first plan that strengthens safety, expands out-of-school programs, and prepares teens for their futures. Teen Connect includes the School-Based Violence Intervention Program (SBVIP) in high schools, but also Teen Nights, out-of-school activities and enrichment opportunities, free meals, partnership with APS Career Academies, and Bank on Burque’s financial empowerment program.
By combining safe spaces, enriching activities, mentorship, and career pathways, Teen Connect helps young people grow with confidence while building stronger neighborhoods. Teen Connect is about safety, opportunity, and belonging. It ensures that Albuquerque’s young people feel supported, engaged, and ready to thrive.
Since its launch in 2022, SBVIP has shown measurable success: GPA increases, higher graduation rates, reduced suspensions, and positive post-graduation outcomes. In the 2024–25 school year, 83% of eligible seniors graduated.
“Del Norte students deserve to feel supported, understood, and empowered,” said ACS Deputy Director of Violence Intervention Program, Jasmine Desiderio. “SBVIP is here to walk beside them through their challenges and toward their goals.”
The program’s expansion reflects a strong partnership with Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) and alignment with the district’s Goals and Guardrails which serves as APS’ roadmap for student success, setting clear, measurable targets rooted in community priorities like literacy, math, and post-secondary readiness.
“At APS, we’re working hard to make sure our students have the supports they need to succeed,” said Dr. Kenneth Salazar, Associate Superintendent for School Climate and Supports. “The expansion of the School-Based Violence Intervention Program into Del Norte High School is a good example of the many things we’re doing to empower our students and help them make good decisions. We’re grateful to the city for partnering with us in this work.”
For more information on SBVIP visit https://www.cabq.gov/acs/vip/sbvip or to refer a student, email: [email protected].
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About Albuquerque Community Safety: ACS is the City of Albuquerque’s third branch of public safety. Responders take calls for service involving behavioral health, substance use, and other non-criminal and non-medical issues. Request an ACS Responder by calling 911 for emergencies and 311 for non-emergencies.