Volume 6 Issue 2
May 2015

NNHVIP  

New Member Program
Healing Hurt People - Portland    

As a program on the frontline of an epidemic of youth violence, one of the biggest challenges Healing Hurt People-Portland (HHP-P) faces is establishing a foundation of trust with clients. Peer Intervention Specialist, Joshua Lathan, describes the approach that makes him so effective: "We are not the police. I stress that real heavily. I let them know our concern is your safety. I let them know it wasn't too long ago that I was going through things they're going through."

 

After hearing about violence intervention programs at a conference, Director Maggie Bennington-Davis of Healing Hurt People Portland returned to Portland with a vision and a blueprint for how to bring hospital-based trauma services to the Portland area. Dr. Alisha Moreland, MD, took the lead in developing HHP-Portland with technical assistance from Dr. Ted Corbin and Dr. John Rich of HHP-Philadelphia. Founded in 2013 and utilizing a dedicated staff of three, HHP-Portland has been a source of support and comfort for victims of violent injury ever since.

 

Like many small programs, HHP-Portland has learned to leverage partnerships in the community to augment their reach, and create a network of support for clients. With an advisory committee made up of professionals from a wide array of disciplines, HHP-Portland counts among its partners law enforcement agencies, juvenile justice programs, and even a veteran's fly fishing club that has agreed to include impacted youth in their fishing expeditions. "If there is a need we can't meet, usually someone in our network can," says Program Manager Cheryl Johnson.

 

As a result of the program's small size, HHP-Portland has had to come up with creative ways to get things done. One of the things that makes HHP-Portland unique is an innovative approach to billing for services. "Each of us are trained professionals, and we have the ability to bill for services, including clinical and peer mentoring services," explains Ms. Johnson.

 

With a passion for service, an air of credibility with the impacted community and a creative approach to problem-solving, HHP-Portland makes an excellent addition to the NNHVIP family.

Examining Communication Needs for Hospital Patients Experiencing Community Violence
By Mardi Chadwick, Violence Recovery Program

 

In April, the Violence Recovery Program (VRP) at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital conducted a survey to identify opportunities for better communication between the VRP and patient care teams. Over 60 patient caregivers from across disciplines (nursing, social work, administration, etc.) contributed their feedback. Overall, respondents showed a strong interest in knowing the safety plans for each patient, both during their stay in-house and post-discharge. Respondents also showed an interest in developing resources to help facilitate communication and information between patients, their families, their caregivers, and the VRP team.

 

Survey respondent highlights:

 

  • 81% would like more information about patients' specific safety plans while in-house.
  • 58% would like more information about patients' specific safety plans post-discharge.
  • 73% would like to have a written, dated safety plan included in the patient chart.
  • 65% would like more information about how to facilitate communication with patients' point persons.

 

UK Violence Prevention Meeting

In the first step towards setting up a UK-based violence prevention network similar to NNHVIP, the research team at Middlesex University are hosting an event titled, 'Healing the Wounds of Violence: Sharing best practice amongst youth work interventions in Accident & Emergency departments.' This knowledge-exchange event aims to bring together all the hospital-based violence intervention programs in the UK on July 14, 2015 in Central London.

Representatives from all of the existing and emerging projects in London and the UK, including NNHVIP member, Oasis Youth Support, are expected to attend.  Other delegates include professionals from around the UK, ranging from public health, youth offending services, police, local government and mental health services. The event will focus on sharing the latest research, best-practice among youth workers and insights on impact and policy.  

 

If any NNHVIP members are in the UK at the time, their attendance would be most welcome! For more information, please contact Yael Ilan-Clarke at y.ilan-clarke@mdx.ac.uk, or visit the website at: http://mdxminds.com.

 

Trauma Informed Care Corner 

 

Welcome to the Trauma-Informed Corner of the NNHVIP Newsletter! As buzz and interest around trauma, trauma-informed care, and trauma-informed practices continues to grow, this section of the NNHVIP Newsletter will provide members with access to information regarding trauma-informed care tips, resources, best practices, and research.

 

In 2011, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs released the mobile app "PTSD Coach". This free app allows users to learn about and manage trauma symptoms. Features of the app include:

  • Information on PTSD and effective treatments
  • Tools for screening and tracking symptoms
  • Access to link for support and help

The free PTSD Coach App can be downloaded from the iTunes and Google Play app stores. The PTSD Coach Online is also available for desktop use.

 

 
Monthly Working Groups

Interested Network members* can learn and share best practices with national and international colleagues at monthly work-group meetings:

Workforce Development
2nd Thursday 9am PST/11am CST/12pm EST

Policy
2nd Thursday 1pm PST/3pm CST/4pm EST

Research and Evaluation
1st Friday 10am PST/12pm CST/1pm EST

Mental Health
1st Wednesday 9am PST/11am CST/12pm EST

For more information contact us.
*Your program must be an NNHVIP member to participate.
NNHVIP E-Bulletin Contents
New NNHVIP Member
Examining Communication Needs
UK Violence Prevention Meeting
Trauma Informed Care Corner
Research Corner

Save the date for the 2015 NNHVIP Conference
 
September 28-29 
Los Angeles, CA


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NNHVIP Research Corner

  

  

Here are some recent articles that have relevance to our work.   

  

Violent Reinjury and Mortality Among Youth Seeking Emergency Department Care for Assault-Related Injury - A 2 Year Prospective Cohort Study

This article compares recidivism for violent injury and mortality outcomes among drug-using, assault-injured youth (AI group) and drug-using, non-assault-injured control participants (non-AI group) presenting to an urban ED for care.
 

Cross-sector, multi-agency interventions to address urban youth firearms violence: a rapid evidence assessment

This article summarizes the results from a Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) to identify effective cross-sector, multi-agency urban youth firearms violence reduction strategies.

 

The Truth N' Trauma Project: Addressing Community Violence Through a Youth-Led, Trauma -Informed and Restorative Framework

This paper describes the implementation and evaluation of a youth violence prevention and intervention program on Chicago's south side.

 

CDC Grant Rounds: Preventing Youth Violence

This article looks at Evidence Based Youth Violence, Challenges to Preventing Youth Violence, and the Public Health Role in Preventing Youth Violence.
 

Unequal Burdens of Loss: Examining the Frequency and Timing of Homicide Deaths Experienced by Young Black Men Across the Life Course

This article examines the frequency and developmental timing of traumatic loss resulting from the health disparity of homicide among young Black men in Baltimore, Maryland.

 

This article presents an opportunity to integrate violence injury research into practice as most trauma centers will adopt existing models of hospital-based violence prevention.  

 

Adverse Childhood Experiences May Increase the Risk of Asthma, Study Finds 
This article discusses the possible relationship between ACES and an increased risk of asthma.
                              

Contact Us

Linnea Ashley
NNHVIP Manager
lashley@youthalive.org