New Jersey Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Grant Program

The SFY26 New Jersey Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program (NJHVIP) is administered by the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety (DLPS), under the Office of the Attorney General. This initiative represents a continuation and expansion of the state’s commitment to address community violence, particularly gun-related incidents, through hospital-based responses that begin at the point of crisis. Launched in 2019 and expanded through the SFY26 state budget, the NJHVIP leverages funds from the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act to support victim-centered, trauma-informed services in hospital and community settings. The purpose of the NJHVIP is to break cycles of violence by connecting victims—especially those affected by gun violence, stabbings, and physical assaults—to services that begin in hospital emergency departments or trauma centers and extend into the community. The program promotes partnerships between hospitals and community-based organizations (CBOs) that offer culturally appropriate, evidence-based support. Emphasis is placed on services such as crisis intervention, safety planning, emotional support, mental health services, victim advocacy, referrals to social services, and long-term follow-up care. Programs must also engage survivors and families in planning and program development efforts to ensure services are aligned with community needs. Eligible applicants must be located in Hudson County, New Jersey and demonstrate existing hospital-linked violence intervention capacity. Preference is given to current HVIP providers funded in SFY25. Applications must reflect a collaborative model, including formalized relationships—through letters of intent or memoranda of understanding—with at least one hospital and one CBO. The lead applicant, whether a hospital or nonprofit, must have the operational readiness to launch or continue services without a start-up period. Only one application per organization is permitted. A single award of up to $659,383 will be issued to support either a 10-month (for new applicants) or 11-month (for current HVIPs) grant term. All programs must conclude operations by December 31, 2026. Allowable uses of funds are detailed extensively in the program guidelines. These include direct services to victims, staffing, professional development, supplies, technology, emergency aid, wellness supports for staff, housing assistance, legal support, and community outreach. However, expenditures on unallowable items—such as lobbying, fundraising, construction, or medical care—will not be reimbursed. Additionally, HVIPs are encouraged to allocate funding for organizational capacity building, including evaluation tools, internal process improvement, and staff training, with a 5% budget cap on such activities. Wellness and self-care activities are permitted up to 1% of the total budget. All costs must be reasonable, allocable, and necessary. Applications must be submitted by email to [email protected] no later than 11:59 PM on April 6, 2026. A full application package includes a program narrative, budget detail and narrative, project work plan, and various certification forms. Only applications meeting all Basic Minimum Requirements will be reviewed. Proposals will be evaluated on criteria such as project design, organizational capacity, community partnerships, equity of resource distribution, and data collection plans. The Department of Law and Public Safety reserves the right to award partial or reduced funding and to reject applications that do not comply with requirements. Award notifications are expected by April 20, 2026. Grantees must submit quarterly or monthly progress and cost reports and maintain complete records for audits and compliance reviews. Additionally, recipients may be required to participate in a statewide training and technical assistance (TTA) network and a broader academic evaluation effort. This collaborative approach is intended to foster shared learning, develop uniform standards, and continuously improve service delivery across New Jersey’s HVIP programs. The overall goal is to create a sustainable, equitable, and impactful model for violence prevention rooted in hospital and community partnerships.

Equitable partnerships between hospitals and CBOs are essential; in-kind support is encouraged but cannot replace fair compensation.