ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this paper is to describe a group of pediatric patients who utilize services of Project UJIMA, a collaborative, community-based violence intervention/prevention program serving the greater Milwaukee metropolitan area. Program goals are to (1) reduce the rates of re-injury and premature death; and (2) minimize adverse psychological consequences of violence. METHODS: Retrospective observation of 218 patients who presented to an urban pediatric Emergency Department in 1998 as a result of interpersonal violent injury and received some level of service from Project UJIMA. RESULTS: Patient age ranged from 10 to 18 years with an average of 15 years. Sixty-nine percent (69%) of patients were male. The majority of patients were African-American (69%), followed by caucasian (21%), and Latino (8%). Physical assault was the leading type of injury (62%). Nearly one-third of cases were due to firearms (31%). Three youths required a repeat ED visit due to interpersonal injury. One hundred fifty-six (72%) were referred for mental health services to address adverse psychological effects. CONCLUSION: Project UJIMA is approaching its goals of (1) reducing injury recidivism rates in this population; and (2) providing services to address related mental health issues.