White House Briefing, Media Coverage of Gun Violence, + More
The Health Alliance for Violence Intervention
The HAVI’s mission is to reduce violence, particularly in communities of color, by advancing HVIPs
Invitation to White House Community Safety Briefing
We are excited to share an invitation to the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention’s Community Safety Briefing, which will take place this Wednesday, Feb. 7, from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. PT).
This call will be an opportunity to hear from the U.S. Departments of Education, Labor, and Justice about their grant programs and other initiatives these agencies are taking that are relevant to community violence intervention programs and efforts. The briefing is open to any organization interested in hearing about these federal grant programs and initiatives.
To attend, please register through the link below by Tuesday, Feb. 6, at 6:00 p.m. ET (3:00 p.m. PT).
News Media Coverage of Gun Violence: A Systematic Review
While mass shootings account for a relatively small percentage of overall gun violence in America, they dominate media coverage of gun violence, according to a new report released on Tuesday, Jan. 30, by the Health Alliance for Violence Intervention (HAVI) and the Institute for the Quantitative Study of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (QSIDE).
The report documents the findings of a systematic analysis of peer-reviewed academic research—published since the year 2000—that focused on media representations of gun violence in the United States.
The analysis also found that race plays a significant role in how the media depicts gun violence, largely failing to portray perpetrators and victims of color with the same humanity that is afforded to white perpetrators and victims.
In a news release about the report, Fatimah Loren Dreier, Executive Director of the HAVI, stated: “While mass shootings are tragic and far too common, the number of people injured and killed from community violence is proportionately greater, and the impact is deeply felt in communities of color as a result of historic and ongoing disinvestment. This disproportionality is a matter of concern for all survivors, many of whom are fighting to stop violence in all forms. The QSIDE analysis underlines an urgent need for media to tell the stories of this impact with care and humanity, examining the root causes and highlighting the community-led solutions that are reducing gun violence across the U.S.”
Baltimore VPP Training
Last month, the HAVI’s training and technical assistance (TTA) team traveled to Baltimore to lead a week-long Violence Prevention Professional Certification Training at LifeBridge Health’s Center for Hope. At the end of the week, twenty-five participants completed the training and became HAVI-certified violence prevention professionals (VPPs).
Photo: Sherah Liverpool (l) and Joe Kim—both Associate Directors for TTA at the HAVI—and Te’ona Godwin (r), the HAVI’s Coordinator for TTA, at the Violence Prevention Professional Certification Training in Baltimore.
The VPP Certification Training is the HAVI’s national training program for frontline violence intervention workers. The VPP is at the heart of the hospital-based violence intervention program (HVIP) model, performing a wide range of functions, including relationship building and goal setting in the hospital and intensive case management and advocacy after discharge to ensure continuity of care and successful outcomes. VPPs serve as the critical bridge between the hospital setting and a client's reentry into the community.
Public Response to Community Violence Intervention Messages
In July 2023, the Health Alliance for Violence Intervention (HAVI) partnered with Data for Progress to test how various audiences responded to different messages about community violence intervention (CVI). The findings suggest that communicating about the efficacy of interventions and the economic impacts for individuals and communities could facilitate increased understanding and support for CVI strategies. Download the fact sheet that includes highlights from the study to learn more.
In the News
Transforming Care: How Health Care Providers Can Respond to Gun Violence
Recommended by LinkedIn
The January issue of Transforming Care—a publication of the Commonwealth Fund—features a story titled, “How Health Care Providers Can Respond to Gun Violence.” The article describes the efforts of health care providers to develop a more comprehensive response to gun violence, one modeled on public health campaigns targeting cigarette smoking and car accidents.
Excerpt from the article:
The most advanced programs have some common features: dedicated leadership, strong community partnerships, and the provision of comprehensive support services, led by staff who offer empathetic, culturally responsive care. The latter is key, according to Fatimah Loren Dreier, M.B.A., executive director of the Health Alliance for Violence Intervention. “Trust is one of the core skills and assets that we have in the violence prevention professional,” she says. “Their ability to connect based on shared experience is essential. That’s why we seek ‘credible messengers’ for these roles, people who often have deep roots in the community, many of whom have experienced violence firsthand. And while the violence prevention professional has a unique role, the best programs ensure that trauma-informed care is provided by all who interact with the individual.”
11Alive News: 'It's giving people hope' | IVYY program at Grady Hospital reports success one year into effort to tackle gun violence
The Interrupting Violence in Youth and Young Adults program, or IVYY as it's called, launched at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta in January 2023—an effort to reach 14- to 24-year-olds who come to Grady after being injured by gun violence. The goal is to reduce the risk of re-injury and a cycle of gun violence by employing a "bedside-clinic-community" model.
The result is a new effort at intervention, starting at a patient's bedside. That's where Chee'Tara Alexander steps in. "We are not doctors and we're not nurses," Alexander said. "But we have the same level of understanding, and we're available to help."
Chee’Tara Alexander, a violence prevention professional with the IVYY Project, was a 2023 recipient of the HAVI’s Empowering the Frontline Award. In September of last year, the IVYY Project was awarded funding by the Kaiser Permanente Center for Gun Violence Research and Education, which is coordinated in collaboration with the HAVI. The grant was part of the $3.2 million in funding the Center awarded to researchers and organizations pursuing innovative approaches to gun violence intervention and prevention that are grounded in equity.
Research Corner
A Clinical Case Report of a Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Treatment Team Serving a Client with Complex Medical and Social Needs
This case report—published Feb. 1 online in the Clinical Social Work Journal—describes a client who suffered multiple firearm injuries and was enrolled in a hospital-based violence intervention program (HVIP). The client required multi-disciplinary care in pediatric and adult Level I Trauma Centers, and his care was complicated by behavioral health issues, poverty, and a lack of adequate access to community-based healthcare and social support. Providers from the HVIP repeatedly worked with the client, advocated for enhanced care, and provided him with the support necessary to heal and recover. The case report details the exceptional work HVIPs can do to support at-risk individuals, disrupt the cycle of violence, and promote healing and safety.
Work with Us
The HAVI is currently hiring for several positions. Visit our website to view the job descriptions, and please spread the word to anyone who might be a good fit!
Copyright (C) 2024 Health Alliance for Violence Intervention. All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in to receive news and updates from the HAVI.
🌟 Incredible initiative! As Helen Keller once said - Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. Your work in gun violence prevention and community safety is a testament to the power of collective action. Keep inspiring change! 🕊️✨ #ChangeMakers #CommunityUnity