Ensure Proper Care for Victims of Violence
Support a new Violence Response Team unit at Southside Medical Center
Petersburg, VA has one of the nation's highest rates of violent incidents. You can help victims heal.
Support the campaign to build a permanent satellite location of the Violence Response Team at Southside Medical Center
The number of violence victims treated at Bon Secours Southside Medical Center (SMC) in Petersburg, VA, has been increasing in recent years. Many of the critical patients turning to SMC's Level 3 Trauma Center have injuries from intimate partner violence or community violence. But without a dedicated Violence Response Team unit, most don't receive the care they need after a traumatic experience.
Our fundraising campaign will cover the costs of expanding Violence Response Team (VRT) services to SMC by building a dedicated unit near the emergency department. The VRT unit will bring specialized care and support to help these patients close to home, within their own community. Right now, patients with violence-related injuries often refuse VRT care because they must travel to Bon Secours' existing VRT unit at St. Mary's Hospital in Richmond.
The new 2,200 square-foot VRT unit at SMC will be staffed 24 hours a day by specialty forensic nurses, making sure victims have the care they need at all times.
Make a Gift
Provide trauma-informed care for violence victims in Petersburg
Features
What your support will build
2
Exam rooms
2
Waiting rooms
1
Consultation room
1
Staff resiliency room
Staff
Who will provide trauma-informed care
4
Forensic nurses
1
Full-time victim services advocate
2
Full-time community health workers
Help for Every Victim
The new Violence Response Team at Southside Medical Center will provide compassionate medical care and support for victims of violence.
Forensic nurses are registered nurses who have had specific education about the care of victims of violence. Their training equips them to treat victims of sexual and physical assault, domestic violence, child abuse, strangulation, human trafficking, elder abuse and workplace violence.
A victim services advocate accompanies patients and families who are experiencing intimate partner violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. They will provide community resource referrals and follow-up case management services to patients.
Community health workers directly support and advocate for patients and families experiencing community violence, helping improve their access to healthcare services.
Dr. Bonnie Price
Administrative Director of Community Health Advocacy
Bon Secours Richmond Health System
The Violence Response Team cares for patients who have been impacted by violence. For some, this may be the worst day of their lives and we hope in some way we can make a difference. Having the opportunity to serve 40 different cities, counties and towns across Virginia and being one of the few programs that has a forensic nurse always on-duty to be there when the most vulnerable of patients' needs us, is part of our mission and ministry. It is our calling.
How the Violence Response Team helps victims
When someone experiences the unspeakable traumas of violence, our VRT staff are here to help them on the path to healing, both physically and emotionally. Hear how they help victims and their families through a very difficult time.
How You Can Help
Bon Secours depends on donations from caring community members like you to make the Violence Response Team unit a reality at Bon Secours Southside Medical Center. Violence is a large-scale concern for the Petersburg community, meaning many victims urgently need the specialized medical care and support of the VRT team.
We are grateful for gifts of any size. By stepping forward to generously support the campaign for VRT you will help us reach the goal of $1,007,000 needed to build the new VRT unit.
To support the campaign by check, please mail to:
The Campaign for VRT at SMC
Bon Secours Richmond Health Care Foundation
5855 Bremo Road, Suite 100
Richmond, VA 23226
Or you may donate online at the link below.
Donate Online
Give instantly through our secure donation portal
Contact Us
We are happy to discuss the campaign and giving options with you at any time. Gifts of $10,000 or greater can even be pledged and paid in increments over five years. Call or email us to speak with a gift officer.
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