Launching the Houston Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program (Houston-HVIP): Developing and Evaluating a Hospital-Based Intervention to Reduce Recurrent Violence

Launching the Houston-HVIP: Developing and Evaluating a Hospital-Based Intervention to Reduce Recurrent Violence

A prior violent injury is one of the strongest predictors of future violent injury, highlighting the importance of effective hospital-based interventions to prevent reinjury. This project will establish and evaluate the Houston Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program (Houston-HVIP). Using a randomized controlled trial, the study will assess the effectiveness of Houston-HVIP in reducing violent reinjury and improving behavioral, mental, and physical health outcomes over a 12-month follow-up period among those enrolled in the study in ages 16-35 years of age.

Inclusion Criteria:

• presented for a gunshot injury stemming from community violence at Memorial Hermann Hospital
• English or Spanish-speaking
• provide informed voluntary consent to participate in the study
• live in Harris County at time of enrollment

Exclusion Criteria:

• presenting for a firearm injury arising from a self-inflicted gunshot or unintentional gun violence
• actively detained by criminal justice systems at time of enrollment