Sponsor: County Manager's Office
Title
title
Agreement with Regions Hospital for Bedside Violence Intervention
end
Recommendation
recommendation
1. Approve an agreement with Regions Hospital (640 Jackson St, Sanit Paul, MN 55101) for bedside violence intervention for the period upon execution through April 1, 2025.
2. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the agreement.
3. Authorize the County Manager to execute amendments to agreements in a form approved by the County Attorney's Office.
end
Background and Rationale
body
The American Medical Association has declared U.S. gun violence a public health crisis. Nationally, African American men make up 6% of the U.S. population, but account for 51% of all homicide victims. Gun homicides are concentrated in cities; half of all gun homicides took place in just 127 cities, which represented nearly a quarter of the U.S. population. The homicide rate for African Americans in all 50 states is, on average, eight times higher than that of whites.
Gun violence disproportionately impacts our community as well, as disparities exist by race, gender, geography, and income. Census Bureau data reveals that in July 2017, there were 306,621 residents in Saint Paul and only 15.5% were African American, yet in 2017, 68% of 155 people shot in Saint Paul were African American (including African immigrants). The disparity increased in 2018, and as of November 7, 2018, 76% of 130 people shot in Saint Paul were African American. Males bare the overwhelming brunt of gun violence. In 2017, 84% of gunshot victims were male and in 2018, 93% of gunshot victims were male. In addition, African Americans have poorer health outcomes and face more barriers accessing health care; 33% are cost-burdened compared to 25% of whites, and median household income is $25,517 compared to $70,900.
The 2018 problem analysis conducted by the National Network for Safe Communities indicates that less than 0.1% of our county's population (0.26% of Saint Paul’s population) is involved with group gun violence, which represents about 40% of non-fatal shootings and is concentrated in select neighborhoods.
Authorizing a service agreement between Regions Hospital and Healing Streets Project will allow staff to provide hospital-based bedside support to individuals impacted by group/gun violence. In addition, Healing Streets staff will have access to patients and their families throughout the duration of their hospital stay. Healing Streets bedside work includes Individual/Family case management, conflict resolution, connection to resources, mediation, and wrap-around supportive services. The goal for staff to work with patient and their families to create a wellness plan beyond their hospital length of stay.
Intentional outreach to individuals who have caused harm will allow staff to build relationships with those individuals, understand their barriers to success and wellness, provide needed support, and give them alternatives instead of continuing to cause harm to community. Critical to an effective outreach program will be the development of hospital programming designed to begin building relationships with people affected by gun violence shortly after the violent incident that resulted in their hospitalization.
end
County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☐ Prosperity ☐ Opportunity ☐ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
Ramsey County’s work around group and gun violence has been centered in racial equity by working with people of color who have been impacted by gun violence to heal. This agreement with Regions Hospital adds an additional dimension to this commitment by investing back into communities, individuals, and families who have been affected by group/gun violence.
Community Participation Level and Impact
To give community members impacted by group/gun violence opportunities to receive wrap-around supportive resources, Healing Streets Project will partner with Regions Hospital to provide bedside violence intervention. Community members will also have access to on-going supportive services outside of Regions Hospital.
☒ Inform ☒ Consult ☒ Involve ☒ Collaborate ☒ Empower
Fiscal Impact
Existing personnel costs are funded by general county levy and American Rescue Plan Act funds which are included in the 2024-2025 budget. Currently, the personnel complement dedicated to this work includes five positions funded by county levy and up to six positions funded through American Rescue Plan Act.
Last Previous Action
On November 16, 2021, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners approved the American Rescue Plan Act funds for violence prevention Initiatives (Resolution B2021-251).
Attachments
1. Ramsey County/Healing Streets Service Agreement