Declaring March 31 to April 4 as National Youth Violence Prevention Week and commending the leadership of the Pennsylvania Department of Health's PIRIS Project.

WHEREAS

, The City of Philadelphia recognizes the right of all citizens to safety and freedom from fear and supports public health intervention as part of the long term solution to gun violence throughout the Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS

, The rate of violence in Philadelphia in 2006 resulted in over 2000 shootings, 400 homicides, over 5,000 robberies, and 3,000 assaults with a gun. And for everyone directly threatened, there were many more affected by these types of violence: parents; brothers; sisters; cousins; sons; daughters; family; friends; neighbors; co-workers; classmates; employers; and more; and

WHEREAS

, Council views the State Department of Health, local hospitals, physicians, emergency service providers, and the entire health care community as part of the solution to dealing with gun violence by recognizing issues and providing solutions at points of contact within health systems; and

WHEREAS

, The Pennsylvania Injury Reporting and Intervention System (“PIRIS”) is an innovative public health approach, lead by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, which provides for intervention through the trauma centers of Albert Einstein Medical Center, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, and Temple University Hospital; and

WHEREAS

, PIRIS offers comprehensive intervention programs to gunshot victims (ages 15-24) and their families providing information and referrals on education, counseling, job training, health insurance, and other opportunities for these individuals and their families to avoid violence in the future; and

WHEREAS

, Council also takes this opportunity to commend the collaborative efforts of the Philadelphia Collaborative Violence Prevention Center and the Blueprint for Safer Philadelphia, to help protect and help those harmed by fear and violence; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA

, That we hereby declare March 31 to April 4 as National Youth Violence Prevention Week and commend the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the Albert Einstein Medical Center, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Temple University Hospital, The Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation, Philadelphia Health Management Corporation, Firearm and Injury Center at Penn, Philadelphia Anti-Drug/Anti-Violence Network, the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, for their efforts through the PIRIS project.

FURTHER RESOLVED

, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Calvin B. Johnson, MD, MPH, Pennsylvania Secretary of Health and representatives of Albert Einstein Medical Center, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, and Temple University Hospital as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

End