This brief follows a previous brief on support for frontline violence intervention workers, with the current brief focusing on the type of training these workers need, specifically the training required for certification as a Violence Prevention Professional by the Health Alliance for Violence Intervention (HAVI).
Frontline Violence Intervention workers perform functions that include responding to the scene of violent incidents, responding to injured individuals at the hospital bedside, mediating high-stress conflicts, case management, and mentoring. Proper training is required to keep these workers from becoming overwhelmed by constant exposure to incidents and victims of violence. The first section of this brief discusses the importance of recognizing violence intervention work as a health profession that has its own standards of practice and unique skills and competencies. Effective April 2016, the National Uniform Claim Committee (NUCC) added Violence Prevention Professionals to the list of health professions. Thus, violence prevention and intervention is a professional career with its own standards of practice and unique skills and competencies developed through training, work experience, and reflection. The second section of the brief discusses training to certify violence prevention professionals (VPPs). In March 2016, a Professional Certification working group composed of program managers, frontline workers, and other experts in the field convened to develop a core training curriculum for the professional certification of VPPs. The goals of the working group are outlined, along with the topics covered. An outline of the content of the Violence Prevention Professional Certification training is provided, which includes a listing of the core competencies for VPPs. Also listed are 13 standards of practice for VPPs. Administrative tasks and issues that are needed in VPP management are also reviewed. This brief concludes with tips for training frontline workers.