Fund for a Safer Future

Philadelphia’s Kensington community has experienced too much violence, but new grassroots-led programs seem to be working to turn the tide. Through Community Violence Interventions, removing illegal guns from the street, and other interventions, residents are hopeful that their community is becoming safer. This The Trace article describes the reasons for this newfound hope and some of the historic underinvestment that contributed to higher rates of violence in the first place.? https://lnkd.in/gREhWR2P Casey O'Donnell #CommunityViolenceIntervention

We’ve posted regularly about Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs), also known as red flag laws, because they are a proven solution that saves lives. We were pleased to see this news about the increased use of ERPOs in Nevada, thanks in part to state investments in police training on how to use them. If you happen to be a researcher studying ERPOs, see our comment below for details on how you can submit an article for an upcoming journal collection about the use of ERPOs over the past decade. The special collection is being organized by the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, one of our grantees, and the deadline is next week!? https://lnkd.in/g2Qh2pdK The Nevada Independent, Aaron D. Ford, Sandra Jauregui, Everytown for Gun Safety #EndGunViolence

Our grantees The Trace have been such a great resource for anyone looking for information and reporting on gun violence prevention. They have now significantly expanded their Data Hub, making a bunch of datasets available on a variety of gun and gun violence issues. We’re definitely bookmarking it and will continue to rely on them for critical information.? https://lnkd.in/gvCgwU2C George LeVines

Here’s a great story about one physician’s work to improve use of safe storage practices. It has long been proven that safe storage saves lives, and this is just one example of how doctors and other medical and mental health professionals are making a difference one patient at a time.? https://lnkd.in/gwuRtFBU James Bigham, MD, MPH, UW Health, Public Health Madison and Dane County, Safe Communities #EndGunViolence

The Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, one of our grantees, regularly produces groundbreaking research that informs gun violence prevention efforts. Here’s a great example: This report shows that firearm licensing laws can reduce incidences of firearm suicide. Silvia Villarreal

We recently spotlighted the work of The Health Alliance for Violence Intervention, one of our grantees. This report provides more evidence that their approach works: Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Programs are saving lives.? Stephen Langel, Matthew Krock, Mike Dingeldein, MD, FACS, FAAP, FCCM #EndGunViolence

We are excited to announce $1.2 million in new research grants to better understand how to protect communities from gun violence. These five research projects will provide evidence that policymakers and advocates can use to develop proven gun violence prevention measures. Read more below, and follow us on LinkedIn (Fund for a Safer Future) to find out about upcoming research-focused Requests for Proposals.? Emily Musil, David Meltzer, Selwyn O. Rogers Jr., Sarah R. Lowe, Megan Ranney, Nina Vinik, Alexander Testa, PhD, Bryann DeBeer Milken Institute, Yale School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston), University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus https://lnkd.in/gaNeBWt7

Here’s a great example of how smart communications can make a big difference in your efforts to make communities safer. In this example, focused on reducing rural suicide, the importance of choosing the right messenger is crystal clear. Donna-Marie Drucker of the Oregon Firearm Safety Coalition put it best: “The messenger matters. I could say something, and gun owners might say ‘OK, I get it.’” Four of our members (see @ links below) are part of this effort, and we appreciate the shout out we got in the article as well! Roundhouse Foundation, Missouri Foundation for Health, The Jed Foundation (JED), Roots & Wings Foundation Galli Murray, Don McMoran, Kurt Michael, Ph.D., Becky Parker, Allison Myers, Erin Borla, Jessi LaRose, David Brotherton https://lnkd.in/gZ4ZBriE

As a funder, we strive to never lose sight of the centrality of our grantees: our funds can only make a difference because of their hard work, dedication, and wisdom. That’s why we’re proud to?spotlight their great work. Today, the spotlight falls on The Health Alliance for Violence Intervention (HAVI). The HAVI advances partnerships between hospitals and communities that prevent violence through intervention programs that address the intersectional nature of trauma, social determinants of health, and violence. Led by Executive Director Fatimah Loren Dreier, the HAVI has developed an evidence-based, comprehensive approach that is proving to make communities safer, particularly communities of color. As Dreier notes, “We are thinking in a transformative way about health care. We are expanding beyond the routine care to set people on paths towards health, healing, and thriving.” Read more about the HAVI’s powerful model and network, and the positive impact they and their partners are having on communities: https://www.thehavi.org/

This is a powerful series of first-hand accounts of people working to prevent gun violence in Chicago. Through video vignettes, outreach workers, judges, community leaders, and others share their experiences of making their neighborhoods and communities safer. The project is a collaboration of WTTW/Chicago PBS, Chicago CRED, and Breakthrough. Our grantees Project Unloaded also contributed to the project.? https://lnkd.in/gJJceDPe Damien Morris, Diane Latiker, Yolanda Fields, Heather Cherone, Matt Masterson, Nick Blumberg