Hospital Launches Chesapeake's Only Victim Centered Program

CHESAPEAKE, Va. – HOPE (Healing Opportunities Providing Empowerment), a new victim-centered program launched by Chesapeake Regional Healthcare, is supporting those who suffer interpersonal violence. The program links victims with community resources and is the only program of its kind in Chesapeake. 

Chesapeake Regional Healthcare was selected as one of seven hospital teams chosen to receive a Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) grant-funded initiative earlier this year aimed at improving public safety and health outcomes for victims of violence in high-need communities. The Virginia Hospital-based Violence Intervention Program (HVIP) Collaborative grant, is being implemented at Chesapeake Regional to help expand resources for survivors of interpersonal violence during and after hospitalization. 

“With this grant, Chesapeake Regional can offer victims a wraparound program with services and therapy critical to healing,” said Raymond L. McCue, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at Chesapeake Regional Healthcare. “If we begin to educate and empower victims, intervene and remove the cycle of violence from a generation, we can stop it from continuing,” he added.

The HOPE program is dedicated to preventing interpersonal violence and providing intervention services to individuals and families who experience domestic assault, intimate partner violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. Credentialed advocates assist with a variety of services, including crisis intervention, court, and forensic examination accompaniment, legal advocacy, mental health resources and safety planning.

“When it comes to serving patients, Virginia’s hospitals do more than just respond to the medical needs of people when they are admitted for care. Hospitals reach into the community to serve the public and promote health and well-being,” said VHHA President and CEO Sean T. Connaughton. “The Hospital-based Violence Intervention Program is a continuation of that commitment to community health exemplified by Chesapeake Regional Healthcare. 

In May 2019, Virginia Governor Ralph S. Northam announced the award of $2.45 million in Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant funding to support the implementation of the HVIP model at select Virginia hospitals. The grant is part of a funding package approved by the Criminal Justice Services Board of DCJS. The Virginia HVIP Collaborative is supported by Award No.20-A4739VP18 awarded by the Department of Criminal Justice Services’ Victim Services Grant Program, Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice or its grant-making component.

Anyone seeing intervention services in Chesapeake should call Meredith Noha, Interpersonal Violence Program Coordinator at (757) 312-6198, email Meredith.Noha@ChesapeakeRegional.com or call the Virginia Family Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-838-8238.

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