The Virginia Center for Hospital-based Violence Intervention
What are Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Programs?
Trained intervention specialists support patients recovering from violent injuries, offering crisis intervention, safety planning, and connections to mental health, housing, and employment resources.
HVIPs address the root causes of violence and provide ongoing case management beyond discharge.
They serve survivors of community and domestic violence, both serious public health concerns that impact physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. By combining medical care with community-based support, HVIPs reduce re-injury, promote healing, and strengthen community safety.
These programs build partnerships between hospitals, social services, community organizations and other local agencies to support recovery and prevent future violence through compassion, connection, and sustained care. Over time, they foster safer, healthier, and more resilient communities across Virginia.
A Public Health Approach to Violence Intervention
By combining data, community partnership, and evidence-based prevention, this approach promotes healing and safety at every level: individual, family, and community.
HVIPs embody this model by addressing the health, social, and emotional impacts of violence through coordinated care.
Today ten health systems host twelve hospital-based programs. These programs are:
- Ballad Health-Johnston Memorial Hospital
- Bon Secours Richmond Market- Violence Response Team
- Victim Service Advocates
- Community Health Workers
- Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital
- Chesapeake Regional Medical Center
- Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters
- Inova Fairfax Medical Center
- Riverside Regional Medical Center
- Sentara Norfolk General Hospital
- UVA Health Medical Center
- VCU Health Medical Center
Virginia’s HVIPs Are Saving Lives
From July 1, 2019-March 31, 2026, Virginia’s Hospital-based Violence Intervention Programs have served over 9,925 patients with a re-injury rate below 3%, compared to the national average of 40%.
By intervening early and providing trauma-informed care, HVIPs have prevented violence, saved lives, and avoided an estimated $101.8 million in healthcare costs statewide.
The Virginia Center for Hospital-based Violence Intervention Leadership Council
Co-Chairs:
Kelly Cannon, CEO VHHA Foundation
Michel Aboutanos, MD, MPH, FACS, NOTW- Medical Director VCUHS Trauma Center, Director VCU Injury & Violence Prevention Program (IVPP)
HVIP Leadership & Staff
Valeria Mitchell, RN, Trauma Program Manager, Sentara Norfolk General Hospital
Ariel Ward, RN, BSN, SANE-A, SANE-P, Director of Community Health, Inova Fairfax Medical Center
Valerie Koeppel, LMHP, HVIP Manager at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital VIRS
Beth Richard, HVIP Manager at Bon Secours Mercy VRT
Felicia Wilson, Lead Clinical Intervention Specialist, Riverside Regional Medical Center Hand-in-Hand program
Angie Mingin, Victim Service Advocate, Chesapeake Regional Medical Center HOPE program
Vickie Madison, MA, Intervention Specialist, CHKD Safer Futures program
Evaluation & Data Analytics
David Vaamonde, MPH, VP of Data Analytics, VHHA
Kelly O’Connor, LCP, PhD, Assistant Professor, VCU Injury and Violence Prevention Research Lab
At-Large
Carol Olson, MA, LPC, CSAC, Associate Director of VCU IVPP
Ashley F. Xavier, MPA, Director of Violence Intervention Initiatives, VHHA Foundation
THANK YOU FOUNDATION PARTNERS
