This case study is part of the Reimagining Public Safety Impact Updates Resource, which highlights successful programs in cities, towns and villages across the country. View the Reimagining Public Safety Initiative to learn more about NLC’s work in creating safe, equitable communities for all. This is one of several municipalities illustrating Hospital-Based Violence Interventions, which provide trauma-informed care and support services to patients with violent injuries in order to reduce criminal involvement and rehospitalization. This Case Study was added in 2025.
Aurora, CO (pop. 386,261): At-risk Intervention and Mentoring (AIM)
The Rocky Mountain region’s only hospital-based violence intervention program, the At-risk Intervention and Mentoring (AIM), provides trauma-informed care and a public health approach to interrupt the cycle of violence among survivors of violence. AIM is housed within Denver Youth Program (DYP), a community-based organization that integrates the efforts of the various programs it operates to best serve its clients. AIM utilizes culturally competent and highly trained outreach workers to connect survivors with a suite of resources to prevent reinjury.
AIM is a hybrid hospital-based violence intervention — a community-based organization that operates in close partnership with hospital systems. The benefit is that AIM outreach workers have the access that hospital employees would, and can connect hospital-based and community-based services including the Gang Rescue and Support Project (GRASP) and the R.E.A.C.H. Clinic.
AIM refers clients to GRASP, their community-based violence intervention, for ongoing case management to ensure client support once they leave the hospital. The R.E.A.C.H. clinic provides community-based, multidisciplinary, wraparound care to survivors of community violence without survivors having to leave the community.
In 2023, AIM had 393 visits (PDF) to the hospital bedside, and in 2024, it had 524 (PDF) hospital bedside responses.
Hospital-based services
- Mentorship
- Mental health services
- Substance use disorder services
- Family support services
- Assistance with medical follow-up
Community-based services
- Education and job training programs
- Life skills training (financial education, effective communication)
- Tattoo removal
- Financial assistance (victim’s compensation, food stamps, social security disability insurance)
- Legal support
- Recreational activities and support groups
AIM is taking a regional approach to violence prevention and currently operates in Denver and Aurora at the University of Colorado Hospital and the Denver Health Main Campus. The Denver Youth Program is utilizing their expertise and performance to expand their program to additional hospital systems in the region.
In 2023, DYP had a budget of $1.58 million. In 2024, DYP had a budget of $4.19 million with $2,762,000 in foundation support, $1,338,000 in government grants, and $93,067 in individual contributions. Colorado Health Foundation Equity Collective Initiative and Yield Giving Lever for Change both contributed $1 million.
Key performance metrics collected include:
- Clients reinjured
- Clients connected with resources
- Clients connected with housing
- Clients connected with employment
