Violence Intervention and Prevention

New Haven, Hartford

We’re partnering with hospital-based violence intervention programs and community-based organizations to provide direct cash assistance and make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and families impacted by, or at risk of, violence.

Providing direct cash assistance to individuals to cover their basic needs helps to strengthen economic and household security, reduce stress, and enhance positive outcomes, which, in turn, reduces the risk of violence and suicide as per the Centers for Disease Control.

In CT, from 2013 to 2022, the rate of gun suicide increased 40% and gun homicide, which disproportionately impacts Black and Latine individuals, increased 73%.

Victims of violence face physical injuries as well as psychological and emotional disturbances (i.e., PTSD, depression, substance use disorder, etc.)

Everytown for Gun Safety reports that gun deaths and injuries cost CT $2.6B each year, of which $57.1M is paid by taxpayers.

In the U.S., violence injuries are the leading cause of disability and death among those ages 15-34.

Many victims suffer from repeat victimizations. In urban settings, researchers estimate that up to 41% of patients treated for violence injury are reinjured within 5 years.

Firearms contribute significantly to domestic/intimate partner violence (DV/IPV). The intersection of guns and DV/IVP has a disproportionate impact on Black and Latina women.

Hospital Violence Intervention Pilot

4-CT is partnering with the Yale New Haven Hospital-based Violence Intervention Program (HVIP) and the Health Alliance for Violence Intervention (HAVI) to determine the effectiveness of flexible cash assistance to promote positive outcomes for victims of violence, including but not limited to gun violence, human particularly in their post-injury recovery. Next of kin of victims of homicide enrolled in Yale’s (HVIP) are also eligible for the one-time assistance of $500.

Hospital Violence Intervention Pilot Expansion

4-CT is now partnering Connecticut Children’s and their HVIP partners in Hartford to provide no-strings-attached cash assistance to victims of violence. Supported by the City of Hartford, this efforts aims to improve outcomes for victims, stabilize households, and reduce violence.

This partnership in Hartford, coordinated by Kevin Borrup, DrPH of Connecticut Children’s Injury Prevention Center expands upon our collaborative efforts with Yale’s HVIP and the HAVI.

Community Violence Intervention

4-CT was recently awarded a Community Violence Intervention Grant funded by the Connecticut Department of Public Health.

The grant marks a further expansion of our violence intervention work with HVIPs. Thus far, our work with HVIPS has largely been providing support for individuals and families post-injury. Through this grant, we aim to focus on prevention by partnering with community-based organizations working with HVIPs in cities where we are already bolstering violence intervention efforts.

By providing cash assistance to individuals at risk of violence, we aim to strengthen economic and household security, reduce stress, and enhance positive outcomes. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, doing so helps reduce the risk for violence and suicide.

Violence Reduction in New Haven

4-CT is partnering with the City of New Haven and its Department of Community Resilience to disburse funding in an effort to reduce violence through 2026.