EVERYTOWN COMMUNITY SAFETY FUND AWARDS $100,000 SUPPORT GRANT TO UAMS PROJECT HEAL TO STRENGTHEN ARKANSAS’S FIRST HOSPITAL-BASED VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM

Everytown Invests In Little Rock’s Hospital-Based Program Amid DOJ Cuts

LITTLE ROCK, AR — Today, the Everytown Community Safety Fund,  a program of Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, announced that UAMS Project Heal, Arkansas’s first hospital-based violence intervention program, will receive a $100,000 support grant over two years to expand its trauma-informed services for survivors of violence.

Project Heal uses a hospital-based violence intervention model, providing bedside advocacy, case management, and wraparound support for patients admitted due to violent injury. Services include housing, employment, food assistance, and long-term follow-up to reduce re-injury and retaliation.

“We’re proud to support Project Heal because their hospital-based program — the first of its kind in Arkansas — meets survivors at their most vulnerable and helps break cycles of violence,” said Michael-Sean Spence, managing director of Community Safety Initiatives at Everytown and creator of the Community Safety Fund. “It’s critical that this life-saving work continues in Little Rock and that survivors have the support they need. As federal funding disappears, it’s critical that organizations join Everytown helping fill the funding gaps so programs like Project Heal can continue their lifesaving work.”

“Violence doesn’t end when a patient leaves the hospital — survivors need long-term support to heal and stay safe,” said Nakita Lovelady, Assistant Professor & Founding Director, UAMS Project Heal. “Everytown’s grant means we can continue walking with survivors on their path to recovery.”

The announcement comes as the Department of Justice has slashed funding for public safety grants, challenging community organizations to sustain their lifesaving efforts with declining support. At the same time, many cities that have invested in community violence intervention (CVI) are seeing gun homicides decline, a powerful testament to the effectiveness of programs like Project Heal. Research shows that community-level violence prevention programs can contribute to drops in crime.

Since its launch in 2019, the Everytown Community Safety Fund has invested more than $15.7 million in grants to 142 CVI organizations across 72 U.S. cities, in addition to technical support and capacity building resources. This year, Everytown is awarding $2.67 million in grants nationwide, including renewed support for long-standing partners like the Project Heal. More about the Everytown Community Safety fund and their grantees can be found here.

About UAMS Project Heal

Project Heal is Arkansas’s first hospital-based violence intervention program, housed at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. The program provides trauma-informed support, case management, and referrals for patients injured by violence, working to reduce retaliation and long-term harm. Learn more at https://publichealth.uams.edu/research/current-research-projects/project-heal/.