Trauma to Triumph

By Jamie Cetrone | Categories: | Comments Off on Trauma to Triumph

Trauma to Triumph (T2T) began at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in 2012 through a partnership with the City of San Jose Mayor’s Gang Prevention Task Force (MGPTF). The hospital had previously collaborated with the Task Force on the Clean Slate Program, a tattoo removal service. Interpersonal violence has increasingly become a public health issue, and the program’s priority is to embrace teachable moments in order to engage patients and help them on their journey to resilience and recovery. The T2T program provides outreach, mentorship, and community services to victims of interpersonal violence, specifically youth and their families. These resources are designed to help patients cope with present circumstances, foster hope, and promote wellness, with an ultimate goal of reducing re-injury and recidivism of violence in the community.

Eligible participants for the Trauma to Triumph Program include trauma patients ages 13 to 30 within Santa Clara County who have sustained a gunshot wound, physical assault, stab wound, or assault with a weapon. A peer intervention specialist visits the patients at their bedside within the first 48 hours of admission to the hospital. Based on needs identified by the patient, the hospital social worker and intervention specialist create a discharge plan and coordinate resources for patients and families. Resources range from victim services, housing assistance, mental health/substance abuse services, job placement assistance, education support, basic subsistence needs, and court or probation advocacy.  The T2T team builds a close, trusting relationship with clients over a six to twelve month period by providing one-on-one coaching and support so that clients can overcome trauma, set-backs, and challenges to while adopting a healthier lifestyle.

The T2T Program is a partnership between the City MGPTF and Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. As a result, the T2T Program has referral access to a continuum of other City operated/funded interventions and community service providers.  These service resources are not only available to the primary client but also other family, siblings, and friends that may be negatively impacted by violent incidents. As part of the hospital’s commitment to being informed and engaged in violence prevention and best practices, they maintain a membership with the National Network of Hospital Violence Intervention Programs.

The T2T Program is the only formal evidenced-based hospital-based intervention program in the highly populated Santa Clara County. Prior to the T2T program, marginalized victims were released to unstable housing, transitional living situations or homelessness. They were also often in a traumatized state, with limited coping skills, no or limited support to prevent re-victimization, and without help to establish a healthier life style. Since full program funding was received in 2015, the T2T Program has served over 210 clients with 5,844 hours of service, representing 7,305 service sessions. Program evaluation client interviews have indicated; 96% “felt program was very helpful” and 92% felt “more hopeful about their future”. Since 2015, the program has had two patients who voluntarily participated in a service plan be re-admitted to the hospital.