Reducing youth violence and retaliation through hospital-linked intervention

Academics and public health professionals have come to approach the topic of violence as a preventable public health epidemic. The Sacramento Violence Intervention Program (SVIP) was developed to address the public health crisis of youth violence in the greater Sacramento Area. A partnership between and a non-profit, 330 funded Federally Qualified Health Care public health organization and a local hospital trauma center1, SVIP aims to reduce re-injury and retaliatory violence through 6 months to 1 year of intensive case management services and mentoring. By providing young victims of violent injury (ages 15-26) and their families with comprehensive support services based on the principles of trauma-informed care, SVIP stops the cycle of violence and gives its participants another chance to live constructive, healthy lives. Data from the last two years of program operation demonstrates the undeniable successes of the SVIP. Of the 112 participants, 89% have not been arrested for a new offense since intake into the program and 99% have not been hospitalized due to a new violence-related injury. As a member of the National Network for Hospital-Based Intervention Programs, SVIP has received accolades for its innovative in-house GED program, Digital Story-Telling project, in-house link to mental health services and further integration of youth into community resources. Next steps for the program include its participation in national violence intervention research, the design and implementation of a youth advisory council and exploration of possibilities for transitional, safe-housing.