The Responsive Individualized Support and Early Intervention (RISE) Program at University Health Truman Medical Center (UHTMC) offers compassionate, trauma-informed care for survivors of nonfatal gunshot injuries. Located in the heart of the UMKC Health Sciences District, RISE serves individuals and families in Jackson County who have been deeply impacted by community violence.

The RISE clinical team focuses on connecting survivors to mental health care within 24 to 48 hours of their arrival at the hospital, recognizing that this early window is critical for trauma intervention. In addition to offering immediate psychological support during a time of immense vulnerability, the program provides ongoing, personalized mental health care in the weeks and months following discharge.

Gun violence leaves deep wounds—physical, emotional, and psychological. The RISE Program exists to ensure survivors and their families are not left to heal alone.

A Community-Wide Need

Jackson County residents deserve the opportunity to live long, healthy lives, no matter their background. But the growing epidemic of gun violence in Kansas City continues to disproportionately affect under-resourced communities, limiting those opportunities and compounding trauma across generations.

Between 2019 and 2022, there were 2,152 nonfatal shootings in Jackson County. From September 2019 through October 2023, the RISE Program at University Health screened or provided services to 694 survivors of gun violence, along with their family members when appropriate.

Research shows that victims of gun violence are at increased risk for mental health challenges such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and emotional dysregulation—especially those from communities already facing poverty, racism, and limited access to healthcare. According to a 2022 study published in General Hospital Psychiatry, approximately 44% of survivors screened by the RISE team in the first 21 months of the program were at high risk for developing chronic PTSD.

Addressing these mental health needs isn’t just important—it’s urgent. Left untreated, trauma can increase the risk of future victimization, substance use, and continued involvement in cycles of violence. RISE aims to disrupt that cycle.

A Model Built On Early Intervention

What makes RISE different is its proactive, timely approach. Rather than waiting for survivors to seek mental health services—something many may never do due to stigma, access barriers, or distrust—RISE brings the services directly to them at their point of medical care.

Shortly after a patient arrives at UHTMC with a gunshot injury, the RISE team works with medical staff to:

• Conduct psychological screenings
• Assess for PTSD risk
• Begin trauma-informed conversations
• Offer mental health resources and follow-up plans
• Engage family members when appropriate

Care doesn’t stop once a patient leaves the hospital. Survivors are offered weeks to months of follow-up care, ensuring that mental health support continues during the long, often difficult process of physical and emotional healing.

Partnerships That Strengthen Recovery

RISE is not a standalone effort. The program is part of a larger network of violence prevention and community recovery services. With continued support from Jackson County COMBAT Prevention Funding, RISE is a key partner in the STRiVIN' initiative—a coordinated response aimed at reducing violence and supporting those affected by it.

Through STRiVIN’, RISE refers survivors and their families to trusted community partners who can provide wraparound support, including:

• Housing assistance
• Food access
• Transportation
• Employment resources
• Legal support
• Education and youth programming

As of June 2024, RISE had submitted 120 referrals to STRiVIN’, and 69% were successfully completed, exceeding the average completion rate across other sites. These connections are critical in helping survivors stabilize their lives and reduce the chances of being caught in further cycles of violence.

Addressing Root Causes Through Trauma-Informed Care

Healing from gun violence requires more than medical attention—it requires emotional support, connection, and the ability to process trauma in a safe, supported environment. The RISE Program operates with this understanding at its core, aligning with the Kansas City Blueprint for Violence Prevention, which calls for trauma-informed care in hospital settings to reduce revictimization and repeat involvement in violence.

By offering early intervention, the RISE team helps survivors begin the mental and emotional recovery process before trauma becomes chronic. This is especially crucial for youth and young adults, who are often overrepresented among shooting victims and may not otherwise have access to high-quality mental health care.

Building A Replicable Model

RISE not only supports survivors in Jackson County—it is also developing a model that can be replicated in other trauma centers. By tracking outcomes, refining methods, and partnering with researchers, RISE aims to create a scalable system for early trauma intervention that can be implemented wherever gun violence is a public health concern.

This vision includes:

• Sharing best practices with other hospitals and clinics
• Training healthcare professionals in trauma-informed care
• Strengthening referral systems between hospitals and community agencies
• Helping to standardize early intervention protocols across systems

By doing so, the RISE team hopes to expand access to timely care for all survivors of gun violence, regardless of where they receive treatment.

A Vision For Healing & Safety

At its heart, the RISE Program is about hope. It’s about giving survivors and their families the support they need to heal—not just from physical injuries, but from the invisible wounds of trauma. It’s about breaking the cycle of violence by addressing the root causes and ripple effects of gun-related trauma.

RISE envisions a Jackson County where survivors are met with compassion and care the moment they need it most. A community where healing is possible, and cycles of violence are replaced with systems of support. A future where trauma-informed care is the standard—not the exception—for every individual recovering from the tragedy of gun violence.

In this vision, no survivor is left behind. With continued investment, collaboration, and compassion, RISE is helping to build that future—one patient, one family, one step at a time.

Locations

Click on the window icon (upper right corner) of the map below to expand. List of all program locations is included with expanded view of map. Locations are also listed on this page below the map.