Project Ujima receives national award
from U.S. Department of Justice

May 27, 2004 - Project Ujima, a multidisciplinary, hospital-based model of youth violence intervention, was one of two programs to receive the U.S. Department of Justice's Award for Professional Innovation in Victim Services.

U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft presented the award at a special ceremony in Washington, D.C. 

Project Ujima is a collaboration among the Medical College of Wisconsin, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and a number of community-based organizations. Marlene Melzer-Lange, MD, Professor of Emergency Medicine, serves as the organization's medical director.

Marlene Melzer-Lange, MD

Project Ujima provides free services to high-risk, inner-city victims of violence, and has reached more than 1,400 victims and their families.

Services begin in the Children's Hospital Emergency Department, where volunteer peer liaisons and paid community liaisons provide youth victims with crisis intervention and support. The community liaisons follow up by visiting the homes of the victims, where they assess needs and offer guidance in seeking services. Project Ujima staff offer ongoing psychological support and referrals to victim and community services.

In addition to treating physical wounds, the Project offers support groups, educational classes and therapeutic recovery activities to youth victims. It also helps them navigate the legal system and facilitates their pursuit of crime victim compensation benefits.

Project Ujima therapists provide in-home counseling that helps victims deal with the emotional and psychological issues attendant to victimization, including chronic anxiety and sleep disturbances. These therapists are available through the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Department of Psychology. Project staff also assists with educational testing; school placement and transition; safety plans; and serves as their clients' medical advocates with insurers.

"We have seen success with our program model," said Dr. Melzer-Lange. "We've determined that less than 2% of program participants sustain a repeated violent injury. These are excellent results."

In addition to receiving support from Children's Hospital, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee and the Medical College, Project Ujima receives funds from Victims of Crime Assistance and the Allstate Foundation.