Community Health: Violence Prevention
Violence Prevention
Since 2016, the Milwaukee Health Care Partnership (MHCP) triannual Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) has elevated violence as a significant issue in Milwaukee County. Findings from the most recent 2021 CHNA show 35% of all respondents and more than 50% of African American and Hispanic respondents named violence as a top health issue.
Health care providers can play an important role in identifying, treating, and preventing violence for patients and their families. MHCP provider members have come together with the City of Milwaukee Office of Violence Prevention, Milwaukee County, the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) Comprehensive Injury Center, and other sectors to support the advancement of the Milwaukee Blueprint for Peace.
Collectively, MHCP members are working on four activities that address Blueprint for Peace goals:
- Improve and expand hospital-based violence intervention services to support patient victims and reduce retaliation and recidivism
- Enhance forensic nursing assessment and supportive services to improve treatment, advocacy, and recovery, and prevent subsequent interpersonal violence incidents
- Report patient violence incidence data via the CARDIFF model to improve surveillance and inform community intervention strategies
- Share learning and advance collective strategies to address and reduce violence in health care workplace settings to protect patients and associates
