The Violence Prevention Community Meeting: A Multi-Site Study.

Objective: The Violence Prevention Community Meeting (VPCM) is a specialized form of community meeting in which avoiding violence and promoting non-violent problem solving and interpersonal civility are focal points. A nationwide study to assess the VPCM as an effective intervention to reduce workplace violence was undertaken.

Participants: Seven acute locked psychiatric units of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) throughout the United States participated in the study.

Support Our Staff--a unique program to help deal with patient assault.

Purpose: The program "Support Our Staff" was developed to provide assaulted staff with the most current information and coping strategies.

Conclusions: Participants reported being helped by the program and felt better prepared to cope with future assaults. However, victims felt blamed for the disruption caused by the assault and resented the lack of support from management.