Lawrence Goshon is an outreach worker at the University of Colorado Hospital for the hospital-based violence intervention program called the “At Risk Intervention and Mentoring (AIM)”, employed through the Gang Rescue and Support Project (G.R.A.S.P.). As an outreach worker, Lawrence responds at bedside and in the community with patients and families who have sustained an intentional violent injury or have experienced violence in the community. Lawrence has worked with gang-involved youth through Aurora’s Gang Reduction Impact Program (AGRIP) which recently lost its funding.
Lawrence walks individuals through the AIM program to build needed protective factors to help alleviate some of the risk factors that lead to violence or recidivism. Lawrence builds the trust of his patients and responds quickly to provide support and resources. He addresses immediate safety concerns, works to diffuse any crisis in the community and is a strong advocate for his clients. He goes above and beyond to connect and ensure these patients have the support they need in their healing process.
Once the patient leaves the hospital, Lawrence continues to meet with that individual and their families to provide a range of services to set goals for the future and develop a plan for moving forward. These services include but are not limited to job skills training, school engagement, insurance enrollment, life skills training, tattoo removal, recreational activities and support groups and court companionship.
Each year, the American Red Cross of Colorado and Wyoming honors local community members for their extraordinary courage, kindness, dedication, and service to the community. These heroes are then celebrated throughout March and invited to attend the annual American Red Cross of Colorado and Wyoming Rocky Mountains Heroes Soirée.
This hero is sponsored by Kaiser Permanente, a company that is dedicated to giving back to the communities they serve! Thank you, Kaiser Permanente!
