Mayor Thomas Menino
Said Menino, "We recognize that violence is a public health problem, not just a public safety problem.''
"This issue of violence is not just about police,'' he said. "It's a public health crisis, and we have to deal with it as a public health crisis. These kids out there need a lot of help. It's the issue of the day. They say put more cops out there. But it's not about cops. It's about the help and support those kids need. A lot of those kids have lost hope at the age of 12 or 13. That's the issue we have to focus on. The public health of those children.''
The comments come during a time when Boston is experiencing a ratcheting increase in violence, with 16 homicides in the first three months of the year, up six over the same period last year, and with the homicide rate hitting a 10-year high.
Menino noted that his new city budget has funds for the creation of an office of violence prevention within the city's Public Health Commission.
John Auerbach (left) and Howard Koh
Appointed as state public health commissioner just this March, Auerbach said that one of the first tasks charged to him is implementing a program for Massachusetts hospital emergency rooms to offer new interventions to victims of violence. Currently, victims of violence are generally treated for their injuries and then released to go home. Some hospitals may provide social services or psychological consultations, but those offerings vary from hospital to hospital.
The proposed program is based on a pilot program started by the city at Boston Medical Center. "It involves hiring a paraprofessional - a prevention interventionist - and, when a patient arrives in the ER and is a victim of violence, once injuries are stabilized, the patient meets with this person and would begin to discuss with them what happened and what could be done to prevent a future incident,'' explained Auerbach, who formerly was Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission.
He continued, "We know there are a lot of contributors to violence and they include substance abuse and socioeconomic factors. We know that if we use traditional public health approaches, identifying a high-risk population, offering prevention and educational interventions, linking them with appropriate services, that we can change unhealthy behavior. People can establish ways of resolving problems that are healthier and more productive and more likely to avoid future injuries and deaths.''
Auerbach also said that the state intends to meet with citizens around Massachusetts to identify public health priorities. Resources will be allocated based on the outcome of these meetings as well as on a review of data provided by researchers at HSPH, he said. He expects that one of the priorities to be identified will be the elimination of racial and ethnic disparities relevant to health access and outcomes.
JudyAnn Bigby
"It is my vision that we see all the work that we do as relating to the way we think about health care reform and the way we insure people, the way we define access to care, the way we take care of vulnerable populations, the way we give voice to people who don't have a say and the way their health is defined, the way we look at economic security and housing and the way that we advocate for individuals who can't advocate for themselves,'' she said.
HSPH Deans Barry Bloom and James Ware also spoke at the Open House, helping to welcome attendees. Howard Koh, director of the Division of Public Health Practice, introduced the speakers and provided closing remarks. Betty Johnson, associate director for student practice support, also welcomed attendees. Two students, Lisa Wolff and Sean Dunbar, provided greetings on behalf of the Student Advisory Committee at the Division.
—ML
Copyright, 2007, President and Fellows of Harvard College
