VHHA Foundation Awarded DCJS Grant to Continue Support for Hospital Work Addressing Community Violence

July 16, 2025

Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association Foundation Receives Two-Year, $8.5 Million State Grant Through the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) to Continue Support for Hospital-based Violence Intervention Programs (HVIP) that Help Reduce Re-injury Rates for Victims of Violence, Save Health Care Costs

RICHMOND, VA – Several Virginia hospitals across the Commonwealth are home to specialized, evidence-based programs that support survivors of serious violence and their families during and after hospitalization with individualized services focused on healing and preventing future injury. They are part of a statewide network of Hospital-based Violence Intervention Programs (HVIP) that help successfully reduce re-injury rates among survivors of community violence and save tens of millions of dollars in health care costs.

The important work of HVIPs will continue for another two years thanks to support from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), which recently approved an $8.5 million grant to the VHHA Foundation. That funding will flow through the VHHA Foundation to support staff positions and the work of 12 HVIPs across 10 health systems serving patients from Southwest Virginia to Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia to Central Virginia.

“The HVIP model has been highly successful in supporting patients and communities impacted by violence,” said VHHA President and CEO Sean T. Connaughton. “We are grateful to DCJS for the continued support of these impactful hospital programs that help improve lives by advancing the important work of caring for survivors of violence with compassion and support on their journey towards healing.”

Added DCJS Director Jackson Miller: “This grant reflects the outstanding partnership between Governor Youngkin’s Administration and the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association in helping to reduce gun violence and keep our communities safe.”

HVIPs in Virginia are supported by the VHHA Foundation, the non-profit education affiliate of VHHA. The programs provide support services that begin at the bedside and connect patients with counseling, case management, and community resources. Through that work, HVIPs aim to reduce repeat injuries, support recovery, and promote long-term safety and stability.

Since 2019, more than 8,000 victims of violence have been served by Virginia HVIPs, whose interventions have resulted in a sharp decline in re-injury rates – the national average is 40 percent, compared to 3 percent for HVIP patients. It is estimated that at least $82.5 million in health care costs have been avoided due to the work of Virginia HVIPs and the reduction in re-injury rates, including $41 million in direct savings to the Commonwealth.

HVIPs are currently operating in the Bon Secours Richmond Market (including a program at Bon Secours Southside Medical Center), Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Chesapeake Regional Medical Center, Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, Inova Fairfax Hospital, Riverside Regional Medical Center, Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, and VCU Health. New HVIP programs are also being established at Ballad Health’s Johnston Memorial Hospital and the UVA Health University Medical Center.

This week, UVA Health and Charlottesville-area community partners are slated to hold the second annual Gun Violence Summit from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on July 17. Among other topics, the event will provide information on how a budding HVIP at UVA Health can be a part of the solution. Register for the event here.

About VHHA: The Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association is an alliance of 113 hospitals and 26 health delivery systems that develops and advocates for sound health care policy in the Commonwealth. Its vision is to achieve excellence in both health care and health to make Virginia the healthiest state in the nation. Its mission is through collaboration with members and stakeholders, to ensure the sustainability of Virginia’s health care system, transform the delivery of care to promote lower costs and high value across the continuum of care, and to improve health for all Virginians. Connect with VHHA through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

###

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Julian Walker
Vice President of Communications
(804) 297-3193 office
(804) 304-7402 mobile
jtwalker@www.vhha.com