YuLin Zhen, Photography Editor

Victims of violent crime in Connecticut now have access to an innovative form of support: unrestricted cash assistance aimed at addressing the financial and emotional toll of trauma, while fostering recovery and reducing the risk of re-victimization.

The 4CT Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program, or HVIP, was launched as a pilot at Yale New Haven Hospital in collaboration with 4-CT, an independent 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2020. It offers direct financial assistance to victims of violent crimes, particularly through partnerships with hospitals and community organizations. It emerged during the pandemic as a response to financial struggles exacerbated by COVID-19, recognizing that many people were facing economic hardships long before the pandemic. 

Building on its success at YNHH, the program has recently expanded to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford. The goal is to empower victims, helping them rebuild their lives while reducing the risk of repeat violence or injury.

“One of the most remarkable aspects of this program is how it empowers victims in crisis,” Dr. James Dodington, medical director of YNHH’s Center for Injury and Violence Prevention, told the News. “We’ve seen it help survivors meet their basic needs while supporting their psychological and emotional recovery.”

Victims of violent crime face challenges that extend far beyond their physical injuries. In the immediate aftermath of violence, many survivors experience financial hardship, often losing wages from missed work or struggling to cover medical bills, relocation costs, or other unforeseen expenses. 

This is where the 4CT Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program steps in, offering a vital resource: cash aid that survivors can use to address their most urgent needs, without the restrictions often associated with traditional financial assistance programs.

Dr. Arielle Baskin-Sommers, an associate professor of psychology and psychiatry, underscored the importance of this type of support, particularly in addressing the often-overlooked economic burdens that can compound the trauma of violent crime.

She highlighted the “hidden costs” of being a victim of crime, including lost wages, medical expenses, child care, and the need for mental health care, all contributing to a mounting financial burden.

“[Funding] could help psychologically for them to feel like there was some restitution or repayment paid, but it really becomes a necessity for many people who are victims of violent crimes,” Baskin-Sommers said.

Unlike other forms of assistance that may come with stipulations, the program offers unrestricted cash aid. The approach gives survivors autonomy, enabling them to prioritize their own recovery needs. 

The flexibility is intentional, according to Sarah Blanton, CEO of 4-CT, who believes it is critical to treat victims as the experts in their own recovery.

“We believe in trusting people to make the best decisions for themselves,” Blanton said. “By offering unrestricted cash, we empower them to take control of their lives in a way that structured support programs often can’t.” 

Moreover, the immediate availability of this aid is particularly important, as it allows victims to stabilize their situations quickly, often before they are even discharged from the hospital. 

In this way, the program’s holistic approach reflects a growing understanding that poverty and financial stress are key reasons for revictimization and possible drivers for recidivism. As Baskin-Sommers explained, alleviating these pressures can help break the cycles of violence that often plague low-income communities. 

“There is a history of segregation and racism within these communities … and these kinds of programs can work against some of the inequities that have been built into our society,” Kevin Borrup, who leads the expansion effort at the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, stated. “These programs have made a lot of strides to help provide opportunity to folks who’ve been traditionally or historically disenfranchised.”

Preliminary data from YNHH shows that the program has had a measurable impact on reducing recidivism. Dodington pointed to early findings indicating that the recidivism rate for violent injury survivors who received financial assistance dropped from 14 percent to zero within the first year. 

Reducing recidivism is a critical component of violence intervention, as survivors of violence are often at heightened risk of experiencing repeat injuries. These early results offer hope that the program’s comprehensive approach can make a tangible difference in preventing further harm.

While more data is needed to confirm these results long-term, the early outcomes suggest that financial support, combined with other services like mental health counseling and case management, is key to breaking cycles of violence.

The expansion of 4CT’s HVIP program to the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford marks a significant step in addressing violence as a public health issue. Borrup noted that the program has been especially impactful in addressing violence in low-income communities.

“When you give families financial support, even temporarily, it can reduce the stress that often fuels conflict, such as domestic violence,” Borrup explained. “By easing some of that burden, we create a pathway for long-term healing.”

His team works in collaboration with local community organizations to ensure that the funds reach those most in need.

In addition to its direct impact on survivors, the program fosters trust between victims and the healthcare professionals assisting them. Erin Latham, YNHH’s victim service navigator, noted that offering financial aid helps establish a deeper relationship with survivors, allowing them to engage more fully with other services.

“There is an unexpected trust that is built when someone gives you something that you need. It strengthens a bond between the healthcare provider and the person,” Latham said. “Clients have been very appreciative of the funds and are overwhelmingly grateful, often surprised, by the monetary support.” 

While the program’s early results are promising, sustaining it over the long term remains a challenge for 4CT and YNHH. Securing consistent funding from philanthropic donations, grants and partnerships with other organizations is critical to its continued success, and advocates like Borrup are working to gather more data to demonstrate the program’s effectiveness.

“We need sustained advocacy and support to make this a long-term, scalable solution,” Borrup explained. The ultimate goal is to build a strong case for federal support, which could enable the program to expand beyond Connecticut and serve as a model for other states.

Looking ahead, the program’s advocates are hopeful that the success seen at Yale New Haven Health and Connecticut Children’s can be replicated elsewhere. Blanton said she envisions a future where direct cash assistance becomes a standard component of hospital-based violence intervention programs nationwide. 

Through partnerships with hospitals, community organizations, and philanthropic efforts, the 4CT Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program works to prove that recovery from violence is possible with the right kind of support. 

“Our hope is that, ten years from now, we’ll be able to see the same kind of thing where we’ve improved the lives of families and kids so that they’re able to celebrate birthdays, weddings and other family events that everyone wants to see for their loved ones,” Borrup stated.

The Connecticut Children’s Medical Center was founded on April 2, 1996.