violence prevention initiative group photo Violence is a public health epidemic in our country and carries with it significant health and psychosocial consequences, particularly for young people. The Violence Prevention Initiative (VPI) is a CHOP-wide effort to interrupt the cycle of violence. On May 12, 2014, CHOP held a press conference at the Nicholas and Athena Karabots Pediatric Care Center with many noted speakers to announce the official launch of the VPI.

The VPI builds on years of hospital and community partnership and research to address bullying, assault, re-injury and domestic violence. Through the practice of trauma-informed care, in which we recognize that traumatic experiences affect how people respond to our outreach and services, we hope to become a national model for hospital-led youth violence prevention.

Pictured above, from left: Steven Altschuler, MD, CHOP 's CEO; Stephen Leff, PhD, and Joel Fein, MD, MPH, leaders of CHOP's Violence Prevention Initiative; Jannie Blackwell, Philadelphia councilwoman; Marian Gambrell, mother of a client of the Violence Prevention Initiative; Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter; Anne Marie Ambrose, Philadelphia Health and Human Services commissioner; and Karyn Lynch, chief of student services for the Philadelphia School District.