STRENGTHENING THE FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY OF HOSPITAL-BASED VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION PROGRAMS

The Violence Prevention Initiative of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) oversees NYC’s Hospital-Based Violence Interruption Programs (HVIPs). While HVIPs are an essential component of NYC’s public health-based violence prevention strategy, they are deeply underfunded and struggle with sustainability. DOHMH enlisted a Capstone team to identify ways to strengthen city-wide HVIPs with a special focus on sustainable financing. The team conducted an analysis of public datasets to explore violence at the national, state, and city levels and to better understand NYC rates of violence relative to other localities. The team completed further research and structured stakeholder interviews, and developed a database of national HVIPs. The final report includes an advocacy policy brief based on the team’s findings and sustainability recommendations, including ways to use Medicaid as a vehicle to reimburse NYC HVIPs.