WHO THIS SUPPORTS
Next Step
Hospital-based violence intervention helping survivors of shootings, stabbings and other violent injuries move from crisis toward safety, healing and stability. Launched in July 2016, Next Step remains based at Hennepin Healthcare.
CURRENT HOSPITAL PROGRAM
Hennepin Healthcare · City of Minneapolis
Next Step is based at Hennepin Healthcare, with support extending to North Memorial Health, Abbott Northwestern and Children’s Minnesota. Hospital-based services and enrollment are coordinated through the Next Step team.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Next Step launched in July 2016 as a partnership between Hennepin County Medical Center, now Hennepin Healthcare, and the City of Minneapolis during Mayor Betsy Hodges’s administration. Its purpose is to interrupt cycles of violence and reduce retaliation, repeat injury and rehospitalization.
Support begins at the bedside. Violence intervention staff build trust with survivors and their support systems, help address immediate safety and emotional needs, and connect participants with continued case management after discharge.
Services can include safer housing, basic necessities, education and job-training connections, employment support, mental-health resources, crime-victim assistance and court advocacy. Plans reflect each participant’s circumstances and goals.
The program originally focused on youth and young adults ages 12–28. A March 2025 account by Next Step director Kentral Galloway and Hennepin Healthcare trauma surgeon Derek Lumbard describes support for survivors of all ages, most commonly people hospitalized after shootings, stabbings or other violent crimes.
FEROME BROWN & THE PROGRAM’S BEGINNINGS
Relationships become
practical support.
The Urban Conservation’s founding history identifies Ferome Brown as one of the community leaders who helped start Next Step alongside Farji Shaheer in 2016. Brown brought lived experience and trusted community relationships to the work. This history sits within his broader commitment to violence prevention and survivor support; today’s hospital program is coordinated through Hennepin Healthcare and its partners.
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2016: Next Step launches through HCMC and the City of Minneapolis during Mayor Betsy Hodges’s administration.
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UC’s founding account credits Ferome Brown’s early involvement alongside Farji Shaheer, publicly recognized as a Next Step co-founder.
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2018: Minneapolis City Council records document Shaheer presenting on Next Step and Brown presenting on Group Violence Intervention at the same youth violence prevention meeting.
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Today: Next Step staff connect bedside support with ongoing case management and community resources after discharge.
HOW TO CONNECT
Ask your hospital care team or social worker to connect you with Next Step, or use Hennepin Healthcare’s official program page. Contact UC for questions about Ferome Brown’s early involvement or related community support.
Contact UCRELATED UC SERVICES
QUICK ANSWERS
What people ask
about this work.
How is Ferome Brown connected to Next Step?
The Urban Conservation’s founding history identifies Ferome Brown as one of the community leaders who helped start Next Step alongside Farji Shaheer in 2016. Brown brought lived experience and trusted community relationships to the work. This history sits within his broader commitment to violence prevention and survivor support; today’s hospital program is coordinated through Hennepin Healthcare and its partners.
Who does this work support?
Survivors of violent injury, including shootings, stabbings and serious assault, and the families or support systems helping them recover. Originally focused on ages 12–28, the program now describes support for survivors of all ages. Ask the Next Step team about individual eligibility and available services.
How can someone connect?
Ask your hospital care team or social worker to connect you with Next Step, or use Hennepin Healthcare’s official program page. Contact UC for questions about Ferome Brown’s early involvement or related community support.
PROGRAM INFORMATION & HISTORY