Supporting Victims and Communities of Mass Violence Incidents

The AHA’s Hospitals Against Violence initiative is proud to partner with the Medical University of South Carolina’s National Mass Violence Center (NMVC) to provide resources and support surrounding incidents of mass violence for the communities and patients served by our hospitals and health systems. Established in 2017 through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), NMVC strives to improve community preparedness and the nation’s capacity to serve victims recovering from mass violence through research, planning, training, technology and collaboration.

The NMVC’s vision is to provide communities with access to evidence-based information and resources needed to effectively prepare for and respond to mass violence incidents.

Featured Resource

The Health Care Leaders’ Guide to Mass Violence Preparedness, Response, Recovery and Mitigation

Hospitals and health systems play a critical role in responding to mass violence incidents (MVIs), beginning with the initial crisis response and continuing through longer-term actions that address the physical, behavioral and mental health needs of MVI victims, survivors, first responders and their own workforce, as well as the collective health of the communities they serve.

By employing evidence-based approaches, hospitals can mitigate the impact of MVIs on victims, survivors, and their families. "The Health Care Leaders’ Guide to Mass Violence Preparedness, Response, Recovery and Mitigation," developed by the American Hospital Association and the National Mass Violence Center, offers evidence-based strategies that are easily incorporated into existing comprehensive emergency and disaster management plans, enabling hospitals to best respond to incidents stemming from violent crime. The recommendations offer specific guidance to prepare for and respond to MVIs and are provided to enhance — not replace — an organization’s existing emergency management plan.