New report introduces a community-based framework for preventing firearm injury and death in Colorado.
October 24, 2023 – DENVER, Colorado – A new report—The Colorado Public Health Roundtable on Firearm-Related Violence Prevention—offers data, insights, and strategies for preventing firearm injury and death in Colorado. The report, produced by Trailhead Institute and Wellstone Collaborative Strategies, is the result of a two-day roundtable convening of community leaders, researchers, and public health professionals co-hosted by Trailhead Institute and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Office of Gun Violence Prevention.
Nearly 100 experts from across the state participated in the June roundtable with the goal of building an apolitical framework and creating a shared definition of a public health approach to firearm-related violence prevention for Colorado. Ultimately, the group aims for communities to have the knowledge and ability to build partnerships to implement a holistic public health approach that is tailored to each community’s needs.
“Building a community-based approach to firearm violence prevention requires that people with diverse perspectives, expertise, and experiences come together to have open conversations and learn from one another around this complex topic,” said Sarah Lampe, executive director of Trailhead Institute. “Community is where a lot of work is happening and it is also where the innovation and creativity towards finding solutions is rooted. Without engaging communities who are trying a multitude of different strategies, learning, and sharing what is working on the ground, we will miss out on some really creative, beautiful, and impactful ways that we as a state can move forward.”
Trailhead Institute and Wellstone Collaborative Strategies produced the new report to document the roundtable discussions and recommendations for future action. The report contains an in-depth analysis of the different types of firearm-related death and injury, including suicide, community violence, domestic violence, and targeted and mass violence. It also identifies risk and protective factors, as well as strategies for prevention, intervention, and recovery.
“It was incredibly energizing to have so many community champions, philanthropists, public servants, and health care experts all in the same room talking about what the data say and identifying opportunities to collaborate on solutions for making Colorado a safer place to live,” said Jonathan McMillan, director of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention.
The report serves as a starting point and is a foundational resource for everyone in Colorado working to prevent firearm violence through a public health lens. It captures recommendations to come out of the roundtable event for ensuring that cross-sector work to prevent firearm injury and death can continue, including building a collaborative funding source and developing tools and infrastructure to propel and sustain local action.
To learn more about the roundtable and join in the next steps, contact Trailhead Institute at communications@trailhead.institute.
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