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John Muir Health Receives $1 Million Grant from CARESTAR Foundation for Violence Intervention Program

Walnut Creek, Calif. (December 4, 2018) – John Muir Health Foundation announced that it has received a significant first-time grant issued by the CARESTAR Foundation (CARESTAR).  Funds will expand John Muir Health’s comprehensive violence prevention program known as “Beyond Violence.” 

Launched in 2010, Beyond Violence is a hospital-based youth violence intervention program for trauma patients between the ages of 15-25 who are victims of intentional injuries.  The goals of the Beyond Violence program are to prevent retaliatory violence and reduce the total number of young people injured by interpersonal violence, reduce entry of young people into criminal justice systems, and to link young people with local resources that help them live non-violent lifestyles.

The CARESTAR Foundation was created in 2018 after California Shock Trauma Air Rescue (CALSTAR) sold its aviation business and established the Foundation with the proceeds.  “John Muir Health has long partnered with CALSTAR to ensure patients are transferred safely and efficiently to our Trauma Services,” says Kacey Hansen, Executive Director, Trauma and Regional Transfer Center Services, John Muir Health. “We are excited to build on this life saving tradition with CARESTAR by working to prevent young people from experiencing crises that require emergency care."

As Contra Costa County’s only trauma center, John Muir Health sees a high percentage of the victims of violent crime and its emergency and trauma professionals see repeat patients who are stuck in cyclical violence.  Beyond Violence has a successful track record of interrupting this cycle.  In 2017, 100% of all Beyond Violence clients remained alive—99% of clients did not retaliate, 93% did not enter the criminal justice system and 97% avoided re-injury.  Above all, Beyond Violence helps heal youth who have experienced trauma.

The grant will allow John Muir Health to augment existing efforts and build a program that can be replicated at hospitals seeking to forge stronger bonds with community-based partner organizations in order to determine the root causes of violence amongst youth. “Our Beyond Violence program has enabled us to develop the partnerships needed to effect change in our community,” says Hansen. “With support from the CARESTAR Foundation, we can now build on this effective model and create a best-in-practice program that matches the community’s needs.”

“CARESTAR is committed to creating partnerships that fuel innovative programs to expand access to emergency and trauma services, prevent injuries from violence, and foster strong safeguards in health care settings,” says CARESTAR Foundation CEO, Tanir Ami.  “CARESTAR is honored to work in collaboration with John Muir Health to achieve these life changing and lifesaving initiatives through the Beyond Violence program.”

“It is an honor to receive this inaugural grant from the CARESTAR Foundation,” says Jane Willemsen, Executive Vice President and President of Hospital Operations at John Muir Health. “Keeping more young people from becoming victims of intentional violence and helping them build productive lives requires addressing the social determinants that lead to violence.  As a not-for-profit, community-based health system, finding creative solutions to community needs and partnering with organizations that produce results is rooted in our values. This grant will help us to continue to make a difference in the lives of trauma patients and members of our community.”

About John Muir Health Foundation

John Muir Health Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring and stewarding philanthropic support for all health services, programs and facilities of John Muir Health. As a community-based, not-for-profit health care organization, John Muir Health invests all revenue back into its services and the local community. 

About John Muir Health

John Muir Health is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit health care organization east of San Francisco serving patients in Contra Costa, eastern Alameda and southern Solano Counties. It includes a network of more than 1,000 primary care and specialty physicians, more than 6,000 employees, medical centers in Concord and Walnut Creek, including Contra Costa County’s only trauma center, and a Behavioral Health Center. John Muir Health also has partnerships with UCSF Health, Tenet Healthcare/San Ramon Regional Medical Center and Stanford Children's Health. The health system offers a full-range of medical services, including primary care, outpatient and imaging services, and is widely recognized as a leader in many specialties – neurosciences, orthopedic, cancer, gynecologic surgery, cardiovascular, trauma, emergency, pediatrics and high-risk obstetrics care.

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About CARESTAR Foundation

The CARESTAR Foundation was founded as a result of the sale of CALSTAR (California Shock Trauma Air Rescue), and honors CALSTAR’S legacy and lifesaving work in the field of emergency and trauma care.  The purpose of the CARESTAR Foundation is to serve as a catalyst for ideas, partnerships, programs and services that are directed at improving the quality and availability of emergency and trauma care in California, while aiding in the prevention of injury, disability and death.  

Media Contacts

John Muir Health
Ben Drew
(925) 947-5387
Ben.Drew@johnmuirhealth.com
www.johnmuirhealth.com

CARESTAR Foundation
Tanir Ami, CEO
(510) 647-8060
tami@carestarfoundation.org
www.carestarfoundation.org

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