New Travis County program aims to help prevent gun violence and provide support services

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Travis County Commissioners on Tuesday approved a new pilot program aimed at helping prevent gun violence and connecting survivors with support services.

The Travis County Commissioners Court approved a contract with Ascension Seton to launch the Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program (HVIP), according to the Office of Travis County Judge Andy Brown.

According to the county, HVIP stems from the Safer Travis County Resolution, which allocated $500,000 to gun violence prevention programs.

The program is expected to provide trauma-informed care and address social determinants of health identified by victims and their families during hospitalization and post-discharge follow-up.

HVIP will also provide referrals to community partners who specialize in mental health, substance abuse stabilization, housing, food, financial resources, legal advocacy, and employment assistance.

“The ultimate goal is to reduce gun violence by reducing the risk of re-injury, retaliation, re-victimization and readmission,” county officials said.

According to the county, the leading cause of non-accidental deaths in Travis County was gun violence; There were 178 firearm-related deaths in 2023 – 107 were classified as suicides and 71 as homicides.

“We believe we can help stop the cycle of gun violence in Travis County by helping survivors and the communities around them heal and become more resilient,” Brown said. “The Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program will help us change this and build a stronger, more resilient and healthier Travis County by focusing our efforts on prevention and intervention.”