Updated April 12, 2019

Inspired by Johns Hopkins pediatrician-in-chief Tina Cheng and her mentoring approach to reducing youth violence, pediatric emergency medicine physicians at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center participated in a research project following a similar line. Collaborating with the Y in Central Maryland and leveraging its mentoring programs, these physicians screened 10-to-15-year olds admitted to the emergency department (ED) with injuries related to fights with peers. Under the research protocol for the project, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, at-risk patients were referred to mentoring groups at the Y that focus on positive youth development and violence prevention.  

“Our role is to identify at-risk youth and adapt our curriculum from one-on-one interventions to small group mentoring sessions aimed at helping them deal with anger in a constructive way and to resolve conflicts without violence,” said pediatric emergency medicine physician Leticia Ryan during National Youth Violence Prevention Week. “We have similar sessions for their parents too, to help them have a positive influence at home.”

The researchers will assess youth violence, mental health and education outcomes using validated measures and mentor outcomes of knowledge, attitudes and practices. Historically, Ryan added, there have not been many violence prevention options for ED physicians.

“This is a good opportunity for interventions and teachable moments for emergency medicine staff, which will have a positive impact and long-term implications,” Ryan said. “At-risk kids need more than acute treatment in the ED.”

Along with Ryan, collaborators include Michelle Becote-Jackson, chief social responsibility officer at the Y in Central Maryland, and Vanya Jones, assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.