Cooper is one of nine hospital-based sites across New Jersey selected for this new initiative
Cooper University Health Care was one of nine sites in New Jersey announced by Governor Phil Murphy and Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewel today to receive a $500,000 federal grant as part of a new hospital-based violence prevention program in the state. Cooper, in partnership with Camden’s Center for Family Services, will use the funds to provide a range of education, social services, case management, and substance abuse services to victims of violence.
“We thank Governor Murphy and Attorney General Grewel for selecting Cooper as one of the inaugural sites to develop this important and much-needed program to prevent and reduce violence,” said Kevin O’Dowd, JD, Co-President/CEO of Cooper.
“As South Jersey’s leading academic health system and only Level I Trauma Center, we have seen firsthand the devastating effects of violence on individuals, families, and our community and believe we can offer help in developing solutions to this growing problem,” said Anthony J. Mazzarelli, MD, JD, MBE, Co-President/CEO of Cooper.
The statewide program is being launched with $20 million in federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding, the largest VOCA award ever in the nation for hospital-based violence intervention programs (HVIPs). New Jersey is one of the first states to use VOCA funds to implement the programs designed to enhance services to victims and break cycles of violence in hard-hit communities.
Research has shown that HVIPs reach victims of gun violence and others touched by violence right at the time of crisis and are proven to reduce repeat injury by leveraging the crucial moments when medical treatment and recovery services can be combined.
About Cooper University Health Care
Cooper University Health Care is a leading academic health system and the only state-designated Level 1 Trauma Center in South Jersey. Cooper’s mission is to serve, to heal, and to educate. Annually, nearly two million patients visit Cooper’s 750-plus physicians practicing in 75 specialties at more than 100 convenient medical offices and three urgent care centers. The Cooper Health Sciences campus is home to Cooper University Hospital, MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, Children’s Regional Hospital at Cooper, and Cooper Medical School of Rowan University. Visit CooperHealth.org to learn more.
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Wendy A. Marano
Cooper University Health Care
856.382.6463
marano-wendy@cooperhealth.edu