PROTECT

What is PROTECT?

PROTECT is a hospital violence intervention program for victims who are 17 years of age and under. We work with victims, alongside their families, while they are being treated for firearm related injuries. We take a public health approach to violent injury by providing internal and external support with the goal of reducing risk factors associated with violent injuries.

Our Mission & Vision

PROTECT shares a mission to use the teachable moment of a non-accidental violent injury to promote positive behavior changes. Our vision is to heal youth affected by violence, educate families and community partners to advance equitable trauma informed care with violence intervention programs.

Risk Factors Associated with Violent Injuries

• Education deficiencies
• Lack of job opportunities
• Socioeconomically deprived neighborhoods
• Injury and criminal recidivism
• Lack of positive role models
• Substance abuse

How We Can Help

Our team is here to coordinate resources, heal youth affected by violence, and to foster families and community partners to advance equitable trauma informed care with violence intervention programs.

The Four Key Principles of PROTECT

1. People are treated with dignity and respect.
2. Healthcare providers communicate and share complete and unbiased information with patients and families in ways that are affirming and useful.
3. Individuals and families build strength by using resources provided that enhance control of their care and independence.
4. Collaboration among patients, families and community resources occurs in the delivery of care.

Effects of Trauma

Gun violence is a public health epidemic that is taking a devastating toll on our children.
Whether it’s due to unlocked or unsecured firearms or violence in the streets, the key to preventing deaths or injuries related to firearms is to understand the individual’s risks and breaking the cycle of violence.

Facts About Gun Violence

Violent injury nationwide:

• The second leading cause of death in the United States’ pediatric population is related to firearm injury.
• From 2014 through 2021, the number of deaths and injuries related to firearms among children ages 12-17 have more than doubled according to the Gun Violence Archive. In the last two years, mortalities in the same age bracket have increased 58%.
• In 2015-2020 there has been a 44% increase in pediatric firearm mortality.
• Injury recidivism rates as high as 55% per the American College of Surgeons (ACS).

Violent injury in our community:

• 17% of all firearm deaths in Louisiana between the ages 0-14 were in our region (Region 7).
• 74% of pediatric firearm related trauma seen here at Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport were related to violence or illegal activity.
• Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport violent firearms injury patients ages 0-17 have nearly doubled in the last two years (March 2019 – 2020 March 2020-2021.
• Gun violence is a public health epidemic that’s taking a devastating toll on our children and discussing it should be a part of routine care. Whether it’s due to unlocked or unsecured firearms or violence in the streets, the key to preventing deaths or injuries related to firearms is to understand the individual's risks and breaking the cycle of violence.