Trauma Services Intervention to Prevent Violence

Allegheny County, PA continues to suffer between 100-120 homicides each year, with perhaps 2-3 times as many gunshot injuries that require hospitalization. Firearm homicides overwhelmingly affect African American men aged 15-35. Building on prior efforts in violence prevention, the investigators propose to launch a hospital trauma service intervention that will take advantage of a "teachable moment" in the emergency room. All four hospitals providing Level I Trauma services in Allegheny County have agreed to host the program, an evidence-based effort developed by the National Network of Hospital Violence Intervention (NNHVI). Adaptation of the NNHVI model will focus on the social networks of gunshot victims as well as the victims themselves. Intervention efforts will range from job training and mentoring to relocation to different communities. The investigators will offer the opportunity to participate in the research and receive the intervention to all gunshot victims identified in county Level I trauma services. Participants in the research protocol will be asked to recruit their high-risk social network members for the intervention.

Inclusion criteria

• Age 18+
• Gunshot victim treated and discharged from Level I trauma facility; or member of social network of gunshot victim who may be high risk of firearm violence -

Exclusion criteria

• Gunshot wound because of suicide attempt
• Gunshot wound because of non-violent episode (e.g., hunting accident)
• Unable to participate in research interview because of cognitive deficit
• Planning to leave community as result of shooting
• Discharged from trauma service to prison
• Unable to provide informed consent -