NJ AG offers $20-million in federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding
The NJ Attorney General's Office is offering $20 million in federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding to qualified applicants to establish nine new hospital-based or hospital linked violence intervention programs across New Jersey and to provide training and technical assistance to the new sites.
Hospital-based violence intervention programs (HVIPs) reach victims of gun violence and others touched by violence right at the time of crisis and are proven to reduce repeat injury. They seek to leverage the trauma and its aftermath as a teachable moment. HVIPs can serve victims of many types of violence, including human trafficking.
Attorney General Grewal stated that a primary goal of the NJ Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program (NJHVIP) is to link hospitals and other medical facilities with community-based organizations that are already working hard to assist victims and reduce violence. Successful applications for the available VOCA funds must incorporate collaboration into a plan to implement evidence-based model of violence intervention.
“Hospital-based violence intervention programs have a proven track record of reducing gun violence and strengthening ties between public health facilities and the populations they serve,” said NJ Governor Phil Murphy. “With today’s funding, we are taking another step to combat gun violence by tackling its root problems. I applaud my friends, Mark Kelly and Gabby Giffords, for leading the charge on this critical issue in New Jersey.”
“This initiative will advance two of our top priorities—reducing gun violence and improving services to victims,” said Grewal.
“This is a major milestone for the State of New Jersey because it is the first time ever that the State has funded programs of this type, which employ a proven, victim-centered approach to reducing violence,” said Elizabeth E. Ruebman, who was appointed strengthen victims services statewide.
The $20 million in VOCA grants will fund nine separate hospital-based violence intervention programs for a period of 21 months, from January 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021, in areas struggling with violence. In addition, up to $2 million out of the $20 million in VOCA grants will be awarded to a training and technical assistance (TTA) provider with demonstrated experience in implementing these programs. The TTA provider will support all nine programs to ensure that they are properly implementing the proven model.
The Notice of Available Funds for the New Jersey Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program is posted on the Attorney General’s website at this link: https://www.nj.gov/oag/grants.htm