Bridging the Gap, a VCU Health program geared toward community violence intervention at the bedside and in the community, was among six recipients of a $5 million grant to sustain the work of hospital-based community violence intervention programs (HVIPs) in Virginia.

Bridging the Gap, which is a part of VCU Health’s Injury and Violence Prevention pro- gram (IVPP), is an evidence-based program and a national model that provides services to Richmond area youths and adults who have been admitted to VCU Medical Center for intentional injuries such as gunshot wounds, stab wounds and assaults, according to VCU Health. The program focuses on this population with the goal of reducing the rate of re-injury, and subsequent health care demands and costs often associated with violent injuries, by providing the participants

and their families with the services required to break the cycle of violence and reintegrate positively in the community.

Originally started in 2003, Bridging the Gap has seen incredible success in changing the life trajectory of participants, VCU Health officials said. So far, more than 1,950 patients have participated in the program. Research has shown that Bridging the Gap participants reduce re-injury rates by 76%, meaning those who have experienced gun violence in the Richmond area and enroll in the program are significantly less likely to be readmitted to the hospital for gun violence.

“For a long time, people have viewed trauma centers as the place that people go once they get shot, as the end of the path,” said Michel Aboutanos, M.D., medical director of the VCU Medical Center Level I Trauma Center. “That is not the case. Through Bridging the Gap, we have

redefined the role of the trauma center. Not only are we treating patients from a clinical perspec- tive, but we’re intervening in the hospital and offering direct services and connecting patients and their families with resources and support with our partners in the community.”

In addition to supporting and helping to co- ordinate appropriate follow-up health care after discharge, Bridging the Gap provides survivors of violence and their families with intensive case management services in home and community settings. This continued engagement connects them with resources to help with housing, en- rolling in educational and vocational programs, assisting in finding positive social outlets and accessing mental health services.

“We recognize that a hospital is not just a build- ing with medical equipment; it is a cornerstone of a thriving community,” said Michael Elliott, chief operating officer of VCU Health. “We are

proud of the work of our IVPP initiatives and Bridging the Gap. Our mission goes beyond providing medical care; it extends to fostering a culture of health, compassion, and resilience and that’s what the programs are all about.”

The grant is administered by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services through the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA) Foundation. The funding will, in part, allow VCU Health to continue to serve as a technical assistance center, providing training and support for other programs throughout the state to develop and execute similar HVIPs.

The $5 million is the largest grant award in VHHA Foundation history. It went into effect on July 1 and will be distributed over the course of two years.

For more information, visit https://www. vcuhealth.org/services/injury-and-violence- prevention/ivpp-programs/bridging-the-gap.