“Violence prevention services” means evidence-based, trauma-informed, supportive, and non-psychotherapeutic services provided by prevention professionals, as defined by the National Uniform Claim Committee, for the purpose of promoting improved health outcomes and positive behavioral change, preventing injury recidivism, and reducing the likelihood that violently injured individuals will perpetrate or promote violence themselves. Such services may be provided within or outside of a clinical setting, and may include the provision of peer support and counseling, mentorship, conflict mediation, crisis intervention, targeted case management, referrals, patient education, or screening services to victims of interpersonal violence.

The Commissioner of Health shall establish the “Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program Initiative” in the department. The commissioner shall develop and provide guidelines for a comprehensive, coordinated plan to create hospital-based violence intervention programs, which provide targeted violence prevention services to individuals who have been the victim of a firearm or stabbing injury and who are at elevated risk of violent reinjury or involvement in retaliatory violence. The Commissioner shall promote coordination of hospital-based violence intervention programs with other evidence-based violence reduction initiatives, including those implemented under the State‘s Violence Intervention Program, in order to minimize duplication of services and achieve maximum impact. The Commissioner shall compile a list of violence prevention best practices for hospitals to employ. The Commissioner, in consultation with the Department of Law and Public Safety, shall collect data and monitor the effectiveness of the “Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program Initiative” in reducing violence and share this information with hospitals.

L.2019, c.208, s.1.