In June 2024, Quanajia “Q” Riggs-Reed was shot six times while walking to a store. She received treatment for her injuries at the Trauma Center at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where she spent three days recovering from surgeries. After waking up, Riggs-Reed met with both a psychiatrist and a violence recovery specialist from the Penn Trauma Violence Recovery Program (PTVRP).
“They introduced themselves and asked if I wanted any mental health services,” Riggs-Reed recalled. “I accepted with open arms.”
More than a year after the incident, Riggs-Reed has healed and rebuilt her life. She is employed at Eddie’s House in Philadelphia and recently moved into her own apartment. She continues to communicate regularly with Rodney Babb, MSW, Lead Violence Recovery Specialist at PTVRP.
“We text back and forth all the time,” she said. “They helped with everything: transportation to physical therapy, they got me set up with talk therapy, they helped me find my job, they even provided me with the deposit for my new apartment. I am so grateful for them.”
This month, Pennsylvania awarded $3 million in grants to hospital violence intervention programs across the state, including PTVRP at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis announced this funding on December 11 during a press conference held at the hospital.
“Our program simply would not exist without the support from the Commonwealth,” said Elinore Kaufman, MD, MSHP, assistant professor of Surgery in the Division of Trauma and Medical Director for PTVRP. “We are so fortunate that with the investment from PCCD we have been able to build partnerships here in Penn Medicine and with funders and community partners throughout the region to continue to grow our program to meet the needs of our community.”
Founded in 2021, PTVRP is a hospital-based violence intervention initiative that supports survivors of violent injuries beyond immediate medical care. The program began through funding from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), which also supports this latest round of statewide grants.
“We started the Penn Trauma Violence Recovery Program because we heard from community members, organizations, and patients that they needed more. That the level of physical and psychological trauma in Philadelphia communities was just too high,” Kaufman stated during the press conference.
The program offers case management services such as help navigating medical systems after discharge as well as assistance accessing education opportunities, job training, mental health care, housing support or relocation when needed.
“When I care for a patient injured by gunshots, my goal...is to repair physical damage: to use all the resources and skills that we have at Penn Trauma to transform life threatening injuries into something that can heal,” Kaufman said. “Success for me is a clean operation...and a patient who can walk out of the hospital: discharged home.
“But for so many of our patients discharge home is not success if their home isn’t safe because the shooter knows where they live...if their injury put them out of work and now they are behind on rent...if they have nightmares...because gun violence is a structurally determined health problem that...is concentrated in social disadvantaged communities.” Kaufman added that many patients were struggling before being hurt; injury often worsens these challenges.
With ongoing financial support such as PCCD grants, PTVRP has expanded its team from one to four violence recovery specialists and increased available resources—including counseling sessions—helping ease burdens related to violent injury through access to therapy services or housing assistance like deposits on apartments.
Since its founding in 2021, PTVRP has connected with over 835 patients; enrolled 259 people in long-term recovery services; made more than 500 referrals; and provided over 550 therapy sessions.
The recent grant will allow further expansion—especially enhancing mental health programming by bringing therapists directly into hospitals for sustained engagement post-discharge.
“You can do all the physical therapy in the world but if you’re not also taking care of your mental health you’re not going to fully recover,” said Babb regarding mental health needs following violent injuries.
Through partnerships such as those with Lincoln Center and Chester County Coalition—also recipients of recent state funding—the program aims to reach additional populations including those from Delaware County who lack local trauma centers.
“When a patient comes to see us—even when they never wanted to—I believe it’s an opportunity,” Kaufman concluded. “It’s an opportunity...to help them heal...to help prevent the next injury...and make our community stronger.”
