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Mayor Sandy Stimpson joined representatives from University Hospital and the Mobile County Health Department Tuesday to announce a new program aimed at preventing violent crime in the City of Mobile.
Through a partnership with the University Hospital and MCHD, the City will establish Mobile’s first Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program (HVIP). Modeled after successful HVIPs in other parts of the country, this new initiative will help combat cycles of violent crime and retaliation by engaging crime victims as they are being treated in the hospital and connecting victims and their families to long-term services and support.
Victims of violent crime often have an increased risk for re-injury and can be more likely to commit violent crimes themselves, often in retaliation. Through this new HVIP, professionals from multiple disciplines can help connect victims with community-based services like mentoring opportunities, follow-up care and assistance, and long-term case management. All these services exist in Mobile, but victims can access them immediately through an HVIP.
Under an agreement with the University of South Alabama, the HVIP would be supported for two years using funding from the America Rescue Plan Act, with additional support coming from the City and MCHD. Joshua Jones, the City of Mobile’s Youth Violence Prevention Coordinator, will lead the program working with University Hospital.
“For years, we’ve been discussing how to implement a hospital-based program that could help keep victims of violent crime from becoming revictimized or perpetuating a cycle of violence.” Mayor Sandy Stimpson said. “This is a great opportunity to partner with our local healthcare providers and build stronger support systems for Mobilians directly impacted by violent crime.”
Since 2021, Jones has led the City of Mobile’s Youth Violence Prevention (YVP) Program, which has spearheaded local events and campaigns to prevent violence among young people. As Jones takes on this new leadership role with the newly established HVIP, the City of Mobile’s Office of Public Safety will also be expanding youth violence prevention efforts through the Mobile Parks and Recreation Department and new community partnerships.
In the photo (L-R): Joshua Jones, Youth Violence Prevention Coordinator; Dr. Kevin P. Michaels, Mobile County Health Department; Dr. Ashley Williams Hogue, Project Inspire and University Hospital; Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson; Dr. Stephanie Woods-Crawford, MCHD and Curtis Graves, Deputy Director of Public Safety for the City of Mobile.