Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Programs (HVIPs)

Developed in 2009 through a national network of hospital-based violence intervention programs (HVIPs), community-based organizations, and the Health Alliance for Violence Intervention (HAVI), the HVIP model integrates social and medical care. HVIPs represent an important paradigm shift in the treatment of survivors of community violence by offering pathways to safety, trauma-informed care, and long-term, transformative healing through comprehensive case management and community support. HVIPs address social determinants of health and mental health and are a mechanism through which hospitals can address both the acute and long-term impacts of trauma. As an evidence-informed approach to injury prevention, HVIPs also fulfill an American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ACS COT) requirement for trauma centers.​
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At their core, HVIPs bring experts with lived experiences (also known as violence prevention professionals, credible messengers, and intervention specialists) into the fabric of trauma care. Working in collaboration with medical providers, HVIP staff engage with people injured by violence immediately at the bedside to build trust, support holistic recovery from firearm injuries, and address the underlying risk factors for exposure to violence. Using a public health approach, HVIPs are a critical component of an effective community violence intervention (CVI) ecosystem, working alongside violence interrupters/street outreach workers, peacemakers, and other neighborhood stakeholders in a coordinated effort to reduce violence in their city, county, or state.​

Key Components of HVIPs​

1. Hospital Commitment: Secure strong buy-in from hospital and trauma program leadership to integrate HVIPs within healthcare systems
2. Credible Messengers: Employ, value, and resource violence prevention professionals– people who have established trusting relationships with individuals and communities impacted by violence
3. Community Leadership: Develop memorandums of understanding and partnerships with community-based organizations, leaders, and stakeholders
4. Safety: Coordinate safety planning with the hospital and others in the CVI ecosystem through data-sharing and communication
5. Wrap Around Care: Offer comprehensive long-term case management (e.g., at least 6 months) to address the physical, emotional, and social impacts of violence and partner with community organizations to address social determinants of health and root causes of violence