(The Center Square) – Despite shifting White House priorities, Pennsylvania medical facilities still have federal money to spend on Biden-era efforts to reduce gun-related crimes in the state’s hardest-hit regions.
In the commonwealth, the hospital-based violence intervention programs, or HVIPS, help victims-turned-patients find safety beyond the emergency room.
“Discharge home is not always success,” said Dr. Elinore Kaufman, assistant professor of surgery and medical director at Penn Trauma Violence Recovery Program, during a news conference in Philadelphia on Wednesday. “Their home isn’t safe because the shooter knows where they are. If they can’t keep the lights on because the electric bill is too high, that’s not safe. If their injury put them out of work, now they’re behind on rent and the risk of eviction, that’s not success.
“If they have nightmares and flashbacks and don’t feel safe leaving the house if they can’t get to their follow-up appointments because they have no transportation and on and on and on, that’s not success.”
Under the leadership of Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency has emphasized prevention models as a means of reducing crime, especially gun-related violence, in the state. Davis led the news conference to tout $3 million from a federal grant, first awarded last year under the administration of former President Joe Biden.
In a draft press release shared with the public, comments from Davis’s staff illustrated the uncertainty of funding sources as they related to the following quote from Davis:
“Every Pennsylvanian – whether you live in West Philly or Westmoreland County – deserves to be safe and feel safe in their community,” said Davis. “As the federal government backs away from supporting violence prevention work, we’re increasing our investments at the state level. Addressing the epidemic of gun violence is a top priority for our Administration, and we’re going to keep fighting to make Pennsylvania communities safer.”
A staffer wrote: “Just noting that these are federal funds that will be supporting these projects…..”
The second replied: “Yeah, I know, but they were under the previous Admin … are we worried that the money could be pulled?”
The first concluded: “Other CVIPI grants were ended earlier in the year, but we’ve had no indication that our award is in jeopardy.”
For now, the funding has been allocated to four programs in Pittsburgh and the Philadelphia region. One such program will re-launch the HVIP that previously served the community at now closed Crozer-Chester Medical Center, a loss that upended medical care in Delaware County. The others are located at Penn Trauma Center, Temple University Hospital, and the University of Pittsburgh.
“I would like to impart a lesson I have learned in my role, which is that the people closest to the pain must be closest to the solutions,” said Natasha Daniel de Lima McGlynn, executive director of Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia. “This work can only be effective if done by those who have been impacted by violence.”
Through efforts led by survivors, physicians, and other supports, HVIPs try to address the root causes of violence and even offer resources like job counseling when appropriate.
For Davis and the HVIPs, the opportunity to interrupt the cycle of violence by providing support to victims in their hour of need is essential to reducing crime.
It’s a different approach than those promoted by Trump, who has come out in support of increased policing and harsher sentencing via comments and executive orders. A comprehensive Republican crime bill aligning with his policy goals is expected next year.
Closer to home, relaxed charging and sentencing guidelines in Philadelphia under District Attorney Larry Krasner has drawn ire from legislative Republicans who say enforcing existing gun laws would better reduce violence.
Last year, the city’s top prosecutor faced renewed criticism after his office dismissed kidnapping and domestic violence charges against a man who has now been connected to the October murder of 23-year-old Kada Scott, a former beauty queen and student at Penn State.
Despite the scrutiny, Krasner won a third term during the Nov. 5 general election, trouncing Republican challenger Pat Dugan by more than 50 percentage points.
Christen Smith contributed to this report.
