IVYY gets generous support from georgia Health FOundation

The Interrupting Violence in Youth and Young Adults (IVYY) Project at Grady recently received a generous $25,000 grant from the Georgia Health Foundation to support its efforts to halt the cycle of firearm violence among Atlanta youth.

Given its complexity, gun violence reduction requires multi-layer strategies, and hospital-based violence intervention is a key component. Recognizing that one of the most robust predictors of violent injury is experiencing a previous incident, hospitals are uniquely poised to interrupt the cycle of violence in individuals at highest risk for recurrent injury and retaliatory behaviors.

IVYY is an evidence-based, trauma-informed program for youth aged 14 to 34 who have experienced firearms-related interpersonal violence but are not in police custody at the time of referral. The program provides individuals, families and communities with resources that reduce recurrent injury and retaliation, while addressing social determinants of health and the root causes of violence.

Intervention begins in Grady’s Marcus Trauma Center, where victims of gun violence, their families and caregivers receive emotional support, advocacy and education. IVYY employs a team of seven Violence Intervention Specialists (VIS) who provide intensive case management, peer mentoring, mental health services, health education and community building through youth-centered multimedia intervention strategies. Clients also have access to an array of comprehensive wrap-around social services.

Program participants are met at the bedside during hospitalization and receive a standardized needs assessment, as well as an evaluation of their risk for re-victimization and/or perpetuation of violence. Our VIS team are individuals with lived experiences who have relationships within the communities where clients live, work, fellowship and play, and are trained in trauma informed care practices. They stay connected to program participants as they navigate treatment, whether that involves surgery, an inpatient stay and/or outpatient follow-up. Such direct, sustained engagement enables deep bonds with those who have been impacted by violence – a factor that contributes greatly to the program’s success.

This gift from the Georgia Health Foundation supports the overall work of the IVYY Project, ensuring that the program continues to grow and support our young trauma patients who experience gun violence.