The Violence Recovery Program (VRP) at UChicago Medicine is a hospital-based violence intervention program. We provide support to victims of intentional violence and their families upon arrival at the UChicago Medicine Trauma Center. VRP works with patients at admission and after leaving the hospital to help with overall recovery and to lessen the risks of re-injury. We use direct intervention and help make connections to community-based service providers.

Our Violence Recovery Specialists (VRS) provide trauma-informed care, crisis intervention support, and intensive case management. We work with patients and families to understand their needs and refer patients to the following kinds of services:

• Imminent Risk Supports: referrals to violence interruption programs, help with relocation, domestic violence services, and sexual assault services.
• Social Services: help with housing, employment, food, education, crime victim compensation, legal support, transportation, or other social service needs.
• Behavioral Health: referrals to support acute stress, past trauma, substance use, and other behavioral or mental health needs.
• Community Violence Intervention Partners: referrals to local organizations that connect residents to victim support resources and community safety strategies.
• Recovery Legal Care: in partnership with Legal Aid Chicago, lawyers provide civil legal help such as finding housing services, employment, public benefits, and crime victim compensation.

Violence Recovery Specialists work together with other hospital-based teams to make sure there are plans in place that support the individual and their strengths and needs. Together, these teams make up the Violence Recovery Model:

• Social Work
• Spiritual Care
• Child Life
• The REACT clinic
• Healing Hurt People - Chicago