Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program
Firearm violence is a major cause of death in the U.S., disproportionately affecting communities of color due to historical racism and health inequities. Victims often face a cycle of violence, being twice as likely to experience repeat violent events. Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Programs (HVIPs) are essential in breaking this cycle by offering comprehensive services and connecting victims to community-based support.
Houston’s Initiative
The HVIP Coalition consists of faculty from UTHealth Houston and community partners who meet regularly for participatory research and collaboration.
Despite being the fourth largest city in the U.S.A., Houston lacks an HVIP. This study aims to establish the Houston-HVIP at Memorial Hermann Hospital to address this gap. This initiative represents a critical community-level response to firearm violence in Houston.
The program will:
-
Develop a Coalition: Internal and external stakeholders to guide the program’s formation and implementation
-
Establish an Educational Platform: A trauma-informed, inter-professional care platform with a focus on health equity
-
Implement and Evaluate the Program: Clustered, randomized controlled trial to assess the program’s effectiveness in reducing repeat violent events
The HVIP Coalition welcomed several Houston Police Department officers to join the conversation. All who were able wore green in honor of National Injury Prevention Month.
Funding for this program is supported by the National Institute of Nursing Research of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number UG3NR021232. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.